Seaplane joyrides, cruise terminal plan in Mumbai

Mumbai: Union road transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday granted final clearance to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation to launch seaplane services from Girgaon Chowpatty to Juhu Chowpatty, with joyrides offering an aerial view of the city.

Mr Gadkari handed MTDC officials the Mumbai Port Trust permission that cleared all hurdles before such services can be launched, state tourism director Satish Soni said. “More services are planned where water bodies in the state will be connected through seaplanes,” Mr Soni said.

Mr Gadkari made a series of announcements, including plans to use 1,800 acres of port trust land to augment infrastructure in Mumbai. The estimated value of the land is Rs 75,000 crores, and the minister said categorically it will not be handed over to private builders. Several projects are envisaged, including a world-class cruise terminal, a 500-room floating hotel anchored off Raj Bhavan, three-four floating restaurants, a ferris wheel and marinas and jetties to promote intra-city water transport.