If everything goes as planned, we could see seaplanes flying between Mumbai and Pune.

The Maharashtra government is once again reviving the seaplane tourism initiative, which will connect Mumbai and Pune via air, with many picturesque locales, including Mandwa (Alibaug), Ganpatipule (Ratnagiri), Ujani Dam (Solapur), and Koyna Dam (Satara).

The speciality of these seaplanes is that they can land on both land and water.

The seaplanes will have a capacity to carry 9 to 19 passengers, and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has already requested bids from skilled aviation firms to operate the services.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (#MTDC) is set to revive seaplane services to improve connectivity between major cities like #Mumbai and #Pune and scenic, hard-to-reach destinations such as Ganpatipule, Koyna Dam, Ujani Dam, and Mandwa.

As part of the new… pic.twitter.com/WFtNXq9EBq

— Mid Day (@mid_day) May 15, 2025

The MTDC, in its tenders, has vowed to pay back the investments within five years or ensure revenue guarantees for three years.

The seaplanes must not be older than 12 years and must accommodate 9 to 19 passengers.

The financial viability studies have estimated that the total project cost will be Rs. 466 crores to Rs. 490 crores, and a tentative ticket price has been fixed at Rs. 4,000.

The study also estimated an annual ridership of 50,000 to 70,000 passengers. The project is expected to break even within five years.

The idea was first mooted in 2014, and the original plan was to link Mumbai and Pavana Dam with a nine-seater seaplane.

However, the plan did not materialise primarily due to bureaucratic hurdles, from delayed approvals to legal wrangling. Later, a plan to operate seaplanes on the Mumbai Chowpatty route was also proposed, but it also fell through.

A second attempt this time with better planning, and routes have been chosen after careful evaluation of their commercial potential and better coordination with aviation authorities to ensure smooth approvals.

This time, there are plans to include aerial tours that will showcase the coastal beauty of the state along with its heritage sites and coastal fauna.

Maharashtra has an almost infinite number of forts straddling the long coastline, and such ventures will give tourists a chance to admire the rich maritime history of the state.

However, sceptics point out that if the project is to succeed, it must be appropriately priced to make it within the reach of the middle class. It will have to be presented as part of broader travel packages, coupled with reliable schedules and awareness-building.

If successful, Maharashtra will become the first state to have a commercially viable, multi-route seaplane network. The project is expected to take a few months before it opens to the public, on the condition that all necessary approvals are through.

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