Shillong, 14th Nov 2024: The Meghalaya Government held a seaplane demonstration today at Umiam Lake, Ri Bhoi district, in a landmark move aimed at expanding tourism and enhancing connectivity to remote regions. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, along with Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, attended the event, underscoring a shared commitment to integrating Meghalaya into India’s broader connectivity initiatives.
Union Minister Naidu, on a two-day visit to Meghalaya, emphasized the demonstration as both a “technological achievement and a testament to India’s vision for connectivity.” He noted, “Seaplanes have the unique potential to connect hard-to-reach destinations, boost tourism, and uplift local economies. Today’s demonstration exemplifies the collaboration between the Central Government and Meghalaya under Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s leadership.”
Highlighting new Ministry of Civil Aviation initiatives, Minister Naidu explained that changes to the UDAN scheme now facilitate smoother seaplane operations by removing water license requirements at water aerodromes and providing non-scheduled operator permits. “With these initiatives, we aim to make seaplanes a regular feature of India’s aviation landscape,” he said, adding that seaplane connectivity would enhance tourism in Meghalaya. “With Meghalaya’s breathtaking landscape, seaplane connectivity can attract tourists from across the globe, transforming the state’s tourism sector,” Naidu stated.
The Union Minister also revealed plans for collaboration with Indian manufacturers such as HAL and Mahindra Aerospace to support domestic seaplane production, aiming to make India self-reliant in this sector. “We aim to create jobs and foster innovation in the aviation sector by building our capacity for seaplane manufacturing,” he noted. He encouraged other Northeastern states to explore seaplane initiatives, citing India’s vast network of lakes and rivers as prime resources for this purpose.
Chief Minister Sangma, who inaugurated the event, reflected on his early entrepreneurial travels across the North East. “As a budding entrepreneur in the late 90s, I traveled by bus for nearly 20 hours to reach state capitals. This experience highlighted the need for better connectivity,” he said, praising the UDAN scheme introduced in 2008 as a “game-changer in connectivity for Meghalaya and the Northeast.”
Sangma also shared insights on the practicality of seaplanes in Meghalaya’s unique landscape. “It takes just 200 meters of water and 5 meters of depth for seaplanes to operate. Meghalaya’s abundant rainfall allows us to create such water bodies at a fraction of the cost of building a runway,” he explained, adding that reservoirs under construction in Tura could soon support seaplane operations, aiding both tourism and local water needs.
Discussing ongoing aviation developments, Sangma acknowledged challenges in expanding Umroi Airport’s runway for mid-sized aircraft, emphasizing efforts to operationalize Baljek Airport in Tura with Ministry support. He also underscored the importance of building an ecosystem around seaplanes, noting, “The seaplane demonstration would be meaningless without a fully developed tourism, trade, and connectivity ecosystem.”
On the tourism potential, the Chief Minister referenced the 2025 Skyscanner report, which named Shillong as India’s top travel destination. “Meghalaya is preparing to be at the forefront of this wave, with infrastructure like the upcoming 7-star hotel here, creating a symbiotic relationship with seaplane services and opening new avenues for tourism,” he remarked, urging stakeholders to invest in the Northeast’s expanding tourism network.
Today’s event, organized by the Transport Department of Meghalaya in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, featured the demonstration of a De Havilland amphibious aircraft, managed by SpiceJet, which Minister Naidu praised for its versatility to land on water, land, and challenging terrains. “The possibilities for seaplanes are limitless—it’s up to our imagination to decide where to take off and land,” Naidu said.
The event also saw the presence of Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, MLA Damanbait Lamare, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, Transport Director Sanjay Goyal, and representatives from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, as well as state and central government officials.