TW Newsdesk, March 17: The seaplane service between the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat, and Ahmedabad’s much-publicised Sabarmati Riverfront has been closed down because of the prohibitive cost of operation and high maintenance costs, according to State Civil Aviation Minister Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput.

The flight, touted as India’s maiden seaplane service, was inaugurated with much fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2020, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. From then till it was closed down in April 2021, the Gujarat Government had spent Rs 13.15 crore on it and at least on two occasions the plane had to be sent to Malaysia for service and repairs.