The government of Gujarat is set to open five state-owned airstrips and airfields for aero sports activities in the state. The Directorate of Civil Aviation recently issued a tender inviting experienced authorities to conduct various aero sports activities at Mandvi, Rajpipla, Saputara, Dwarka, and Dhordo for a period of three years.
The proposed aero sports activities include skydiving, microlight flying, hot air ballooning, hang gliding, paragliding, and more. The aim is to promote a vibrant aero sports culture in Gujarat, attracting participants from both local and international backgrounds while ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.
Interested operators with at least two years of experience in aero sports are encouraged to visit the sites to assess the area before submitting their bids. The deadline for bid submission is October 30. Dwarka, Dhordo, and Rajpipla were previously earmarked for the development of new airports in December 2023.
This initiative comes after the suspension of the state government’s sea-plane project, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the 2020 Gujarat Assembly elections. The sea-plane service, which operated between Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad and Kevadia, was halted in April 2021.