VIJAYAWADA/KURNOOL: The stage is all set for the trial run of the seaplane service between Vijayawada to Srisailam on Saturday. A demonstration was conducted at the Prakasam Barrage on Friday under the supervision of the Infrastructure and Investment (I&I) Department Secretary S Suresh alongside Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) Managing Director Praveen Adhithya and other officials. The trial run marks a crucial step in the State’s ambitious plan to strengthen connectivity and foster tourism across scenic and historically significant destinations.
The government, in partnership with APADCL, aims to establish seaplane services as a viable alternative to conventional air travel, leveraging the State’s extensive waterways and coastal areas. The inaugural flight, arranged through De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, will carry Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu. Their participation signals a major milestone for the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), a Central government initiative under Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), which seeks to expand transportation infrastructure to undeserved areas.
Among potential seaplane sites, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has identified the Prakasam Barrage as a prime location. Additionally, the State has earmarked eight other scenic destinations for potential service routes, including Araku, Lambasingi, Rushikonda, Kakinada, Konaseema, Srisailam, and T.
