Mumbai Mirror: Mumbai: Tuesday,
July 26, 2016.
An RTI
application filed by this paper has found that the city's sole seaplane
operator has accumulated dues worth Rs 43,80,043, which can be credited to the
fact that after an already-dry season, the service operator did not see any
business since October 2015.
Launched in
2014 with two Cessna seaplanes, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (MehAir)
failed to attract passengers for its intrastate flight services. No business
since last year has only added to its woes.
Applications
filed under the Right to Information Act to the Airport Authority of India
(AAI) has revealed that MehAir owes Rs 27,66,159 for using the land at Juhu
airport and Rs 16,13,884 as commercial expenditure. Parking charges will be
calculated separately when the operations take off.
"We are
also in the process of recovering other dues from the company," an officer
from AAI said. MehAir's seaplane services were inaugurated in the city amid
much fanfare by the then Maharashtra chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal in February
2014. Commercial operations between Mumbai and Pawana dam began in September
2014.
After things
looking up initially, the company spread its wings to four lakes in the state's
hinterland. Soon after BJP came to power at the Centre, shipping minister Nitin
Gadkari urged MehAir to undergo trials at Ramtek's Khindsi dam. The company
also wanted to explore the chances of operating from Juhu-Girgaum Chowpatty and
had also undertaken a trial, in collaboration with the ministry of civil
aviation.
However, soon
after, the seaplane company ran into choppy waters. Red-tapism, environment
issues, and inclement weather added to its woes. MehAir had also 'temporarily'
suspended its operations in the state last year, though the company insisted
that all was right.
The company's
co-founder and director, Siddharth Verma, denied speculation about the
company's illfate saying: "MehAir's dues just amount to Rs15-16 lakh.
That's peanuts compared to other companies." Informing Mirror about their
expansion plans, Verma said that MehAir was in talks to start a daily operation
from Juhu to Pipavav port, wherein corporate houses can have their staff picked
up from the city and are also starting operations from Goa in September. The
company was also waiting for another new seaplane. "We are planning
something pathbreaking.
The MTDC also
wants us to start a service to Khindsi and Pench rivers where tourists from the
tiger resort can be ferried. We are also awaiting clearance from the city
collector for commencing services from Juhu airport to Girgaum Chowpatty,"
Verma added.
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