Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry has received proposals from the Andhra Pradesh government to develop 10 water aerodromes under the UDAN 5.5 scheme to facilitate seaplane operations.

The initiative is part of the Centre's efforts to promote water-based aviation routes and enhance regional connectivity, particularly in coastal and riverine regions. the Minister highlighted that the state has proposed locations including Araku, Gandikota, Kakinada, and Tirupati, which are key tourism hubs and coastal areas. The government has been promoting seaplane operations since UDAN 3.0, with multiple states already bidding out routes to improve connectivity in remote areas.

The Minister emphasised that states must assess environmental, hydrological, and safety factors before submitting proposals for final approval. "Andhra Pradesh’s proposed cluster of water aerodromes could position it as a leader in India's seaplane ecosystem," Minister Mohol said.