Bids received for Kasaragod water aerodrome project during UDAN 5.5 bidding

Regional air connectivity in the northern tip of Kerala is likely to receive a boost with airline companies evincing interest in starting seaplane services connecting Kasaragod with the Mangaluru and Kannur airports. 

Replying to a question by Rajmohan Unnithan, MP, in Parliament, the Union Civil Aviation Minister has informed that the Kasaragod water aerodrome proposed by the Kerala government was included on the tentative list of water aerodromes under the UDAN Scheme Document.

During the UDAN 5.5 bidding round, bids were received for Kasaragod (water aerodrome) and a Letter of Intent (LoI) has been issued for seaplane operations on routes connecting Kasaragod with the Mangaluru and Kannur airports. As per the scheme provisions, the required infrastructure for the water aerodrome has to be developed by the State government. Further, commencement of operation is subject to the readiness of infrastructure and the operator, said the Minister. 

DPR

A senior bureaucrat told The Hindu that the State government had already sought the response of KIIFCON-RITES, a joint venture entrusted with the task of holding a feasibility study on setting up airstrips in Idukki, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts, on preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the seaplane project in Kasaragod along with other identified destinations in Kerala in three months.

“The KIIFCON-RITES is yet to reply to the government query. We are hopeful of developing the necessary infrastructure at identified places once the DPR is prepared based on the feasibility of the project,” said the officer.

In a recent directive, the Union government had directed the State to prepare the DPR for starting seaplane services from the Idukki dam site, Malampuzha dam site, Banasura Sagar dam, Mattupetty/Chenkulam dam and Bekal. The State had earlier submitted a list of around 10 waterbodies, including those in Kovalam, Ashtamudi, Kumarakom, Punnamada, and the Chandragiri Puzha in Kasaragod, for setting up waterdromes and other ancillary facilities required for starting seaplane services.

A year ago, a test flight of the seaplane service was successfully conducted in the waterbodies of the State, raising hopes of the much-touted seaplane project.