It was the stiff opposition from fishermen to the landing in backwaters of Kollam
Representational image
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government's plans to revive the much-hyped seaplane project by restricting operations to the three airports, until the issues with the fishermen are sorted out, is running into rough weather as operators are against skipping waterdromes.
The government is now considering more sops to woo them back. It was the stiff opposition from fishermen to the landing in backwaters of Kollam and Alappuzha that forced them to try the option of connecting Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery and Karipur airports. But many operators conveyed to the government that it would not be viable.
They demand more concessions such as reduction in airport charges, besides the existing offers like guaranteeing four seats. Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy held a meeting on Tuesday and discussed the scope of relaxations, officials of the Thiruvananthapuram and Karipur airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) were non-committal.
"Some of the operators expressed concerns over the viability of limiting the operations to airports. Hence we are considering more sops. While the government could offer concessions at the state-controlled Nedumbassery airport, a decision has to come from the AAI headquarters on others,” sources in the tourism department said.
Owing to this stalemate, the government is not even in a position to decide a tentative date for beginning commercial operations. The seaplane services were formally launched in June 2013.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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