Gujarat hustings: Modi's last lap campaign glitz showcases seaplane

Ahmedabad: In a surprise campaign glitz, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday showcased his new development initiative - seaplane - as he traveled from Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam and paid obeisance to the highly revered Ambaji temple.The decision to fly Prime Minister in the seaplane was taken after Ahmedabad police declined permission to theBJP for a roadshow of Mr Modi in the city on Tuesday. The city police also refused the roadshow permit for Congress President Rahul Gandhi citing traffic congestionand public inconvenience. 

The campaign for the second phase of polling ends on Tuesday evening. Dharoi Dam is a gravity dam on the Sabarmati river near Dharoi in Mehsana district of northern Gujarat."I will travel from Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane. After that, will offer prayers to Maa Amba at Ambaji. With air, roads & rail connectivity, our Government is making efforts for harnessing waterways.

All this is for 125 crore Indians!" Mr Modi said in a tweet.The seaplane concept is actually being seen as an attempt by the Modi government to boost air connectivity to remote and unconnected destinations.The narrative is also seen as BJP's response to direct attack from Congress and especially from Rahul Gandhi that all developmental talks by Mr Modi and his party were only rhetoric.

The government plans to introduce seaplanes as part of major exercise to boost tourism and inland water travel in over 100 river fronts across the country. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has requested Japanese firm Setouchi to manufacture seaplanes in the country and assured it that land and other facilities would be made available to set up manufacturing units.

The government has also indicated that functioning norms for seaplanes are expected to be finalised in three months in consultation with the Civil Aviation ministry. On Monday, the Prime Minister said, "We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these sea-planes". (UNI)