SAHARA WOES GROUND SEAPLANE SERVICE

Mainland India’s first seaplane service remains grounded as Mehair, the non-scheduled air service operator, could not start operation as planned due to trouble gripping Sahara India Pariwar.

The air charter service was scheduled to operate its maiden commercial flight from Juhu in Mumbai to Ambay Valley owned by the Saharas from March 10 but it failed to do so as tourist activity to the hill city remained restricted due to the arrest of Sahara chief Subrata Roy in a payment default case. The seaplane service was to be supported by Ambay Valley. Now that the Saharas had plunged into severe financial crisis, this service had also come under a cloud, officials said.

In a statement issued on its website, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt. Ltd. (Mehair) said “This (Ambay Valley) sector is currently not being opened based on a request from Ambay Valley City (AVC). Patrons are requested to contact AVC for further information.

HASPL will resume accepting bookings for these flights as soon as the AVC management opens the sector in the near future.”

According to a company statement, the proposed launch of the Mumbai-Ambay Valley sector today [Monday] has been deferred to a later date based on a specific request received from Ambay Valley City due to reasons which are specific to Ambay Valley City and not pertaining or known to Mehair.

Meanwhile, as announced, Mehair commenced accepting bookings from Monday to two other sectors — Mula Dam (Meherabad, Shirdi, Shani Shinglapur) and Pawns Dam (Lonavala).