Centre Approves Country’s First Water Aerodrome In Chilika

Bhubaneswar: The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has approved a proposal for first water aerodrome in the country in the Chilika Lake.

Informing this to the media on Saturday, Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu had said that the in-principle approval has been given for the construction of water aerodromes in five states.

Apart from Chilika, the ministry has also identified Sardar Sarovar Dam and Sabarmati River Front in Gujarat for development of such facilities in the first phase. Locations for the water aerodrome have also been identified in Assam, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

It has been proposed that the water aerodrome at Chilika would be one of the major tourist destinations from India and abroad, who visit Asia’s largest brackish water lake in large number every year. Keeping the footfall of the tourists, the proposed aerodrome would be built to facilitate regular flights every day.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DDCA) in June this year had issued regulations prescribing the procedure and requirement for licensing of water aerodromes.

As proposed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), there would be a regular seaplane  from the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to the water aerodrome at Chilika and vice-versa for the convenience of the visitors and tourists.

A two-day preliminary feasibility for the location of the proposed aerodrome was carried out by a special team on June 15-16. The survey was led by AAI general manager (architect) Sangita Mahay and senior officials of AAI, SpiceJet, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the State Water Resources department.

The team had surveyed the lake area at Satapada in Puri district and Balugaon in Ganjam district. During the survey, the team took stock of the mode of the landing of the seaplanes or amphibious aircraft, the direction and location of the proposed aerodrome and depth of the lake water where the proposed aerodrome will be set up.

Meanwhile, the SpiceJet has offered seaplane service to the Odisha government.

In a letter to the chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on June 25 this year, the Spicejet authorities had proposed seaplane service on three routes in the state.

The proposal includes Bhubaneswar to Puri via Chilika, Bhubaneswar to Chandipur via Bhitarkanika and Bhubaneswar to Hirakud.

Acting on the proposal, the General Administration department has asked the Tourism and Culture department to take necessary measures.

Considering that Chilika is the haven for the migratory birds, who visit the lake in thousands every year and stay there for about eight months, the DDCA has to take the permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forest to set up the water aerodrome in the lake. Besides, it has to seek the permission from the Defence Ministry as the lake has a strategic location on the east coast of the country.

It remains to be seen when the DDCA will be able to get the clearance from the aforesaid ministries to embark on its new project.