06 July,2015 10:21 PM IST | | Agencies
With the Simhasta Kumbh Mela round the corner, the temple town of Nashik was on Monday connected to Pune by a seaplane service, an official said
Nashik: Seaplane service operator Mehair today launched its first flight between Nashik and Pune, and said it plans to start its much-awaited operations to Gangapur Dam by the month-end to coincide with the Kumbh Mela here.
"We launched our first service between Pune and Nashik today. We plan to commence services to Gangapur Dam in Nashik by this month-end. The intention is to enable tourists to reach Nashik during the Kumbh Mela as well as to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city," Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (Mehair) Co-Founder and Director Siddharth Verma said.
The company will operate the service from Gangapur, around 20 km from here, twice a week -- Saturday and Sunday -- and has fixed the fares at Rs 1,999 per seat. "This service will start at 10.30 am and operate at an interval of 45 minutes. It will help tourists to reach the destination within 10 minutes," he said.
Kumbh Mela, the largest religious congregation of people on Earth, begins here from next week. The service from Nashik (Ojhar Airport) to Pune (Lohagaon Airport) reduces the six-hour road journey to just an hour. The first service took off at 10.30 am from Nashik and landed in Pune at around 11.30 am.
Mehair has offered an inaugural price of Rs 7,499 for the first week (till July 12) for a return journey. The flights between Nashik and Pune will be operated three-time a week -- Monday, Wednesday and Friday - with one time air fare of Rs 5,999 till July 31. From August 1, the fare will be increased to Rs 6,499.
The company has fixed return fare at Rs 8,999 till July 31 after which this will increase to Rs 9,499. Mehair is operating nine-seater Cessna 208A Amphibian aircraft on the route.
