Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday launched a seaplane demo flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam in Nandyal district. Within an hour, he landed on water at Srisailam project (reservoir) in Nandyal.
After disembarking from the flight, the chief minister, who was also accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, was received by the district officials.
Later, the CM took a ropeway to reach the top of a hill at Srisailam project and boarded a bus to visit Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam (temple).
Earlier, addressing a meeting during the launch of the demo flight at Punnami Ghat on the Krishna river in Vijayawada, the CM said, "This is a new experiment (seaplane demo flight). I am very happy. If anything new happens in the country, it should happen in Amaravati. We are going ahead with that motto."
According to Naidu, seaplane services would be an innovative opportunity which will promote economic activities to create employment.
He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also came forward to promote seaplane operations in the southern state, which does not require the expensive infrastructure needed for a regular airport.
With seaplane services, the state government aims to position Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of India's water-based aviation sector.
The chief minister observed that innovative ideas will remove poverty and generate income which can fund welfare activities.
Ram Mohan Naidu said a new chapter is being opened in Andhra Pradesh, adding that seaplane operations will not only change the future of the state but also India.
Though seaplane operations were tried earlier, the aviation minister noted that they did not take off due to Covid and other reasons and highlighted that CM Naidu suggested the potential of seaplanes.
According to the union minister, seaplane services are also important for PM Modi and reminded that they were tried earlier in Gujarat.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
