Chennai To Kolkata In 3 Hours For ₹600? IIT-M Startup Unveils Revolutionary E-Flying Boat

Can you imagine travelling Chennai to Kolkata in three hours for only Rs 600—cheaper than an AC three-tier train ticket?

(Photo Credit: Moneycontrol) IIT-M Startup Unveils Revolutionary E-Flying Boat

If all goes well, IIT-Madras-incubated startup Waterfly Technologies, which is working on the Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft, popularly called electric seagliders, will soon start flying passengers and cargo along coastal territories.

Waterfly Technologies unveiled its design at the Aero India show in Bengaluru, with a prototype coming soon. These crafts are a sustainable alternative to normal air travel and ferries.

“Travelling from Kolkata to Chennai via WIG craft will cost just Rs 600 per seat for a 1,600 km journey, far cheaper than an AC three-tier train ticket, which costs over Rs 1,500,” Harish Rajesh, CEO, and co-founder of Waterfly Technologies told Moneycontrol.

“We will exhibit the prototype which will have the same design that we have developed, but will be scaled up to accommodate a four-tonne payload. By April, we will have a 100 kg prototype. By the end of the year, we are expecting to have one-tonne prototype. We are building a scaled-up version with a four-ton payload and a capacity of 20 seats next year.” he added.

How It Works

“This ground effect aircraft takes off from the water, flies at about 4 meters altitude, and maintains that throughout the journey. By virtue of ground effect, it operates more efficiently at aircraft-like speeds,” Rajesh explained.

The all-electric seaglider reaches a maximum speed of 500 km/h, combining aircraft-like speed, spaciousness, and navigation, with a boat's agility and affordability. The air-cushioned craft literally skims the water surface, thus not requiring any airport infrastructure.

Also contrasting with conventional planes, WIG crafts feature a flatter profile allowing the entire body to generate lift, rendering the design more aerodynamically efficient. "Four meters is the most efficient altitude, but the craft can fly up to 150 meters," Rajesh explained.

Currently, the battery can last for a trip of 500 km, while the team is also designing a hydrogen-electric variant which would carry passengers over 2,000 km.

"This will open up new and varied applications; the battery technology has developed a lot, with already a few electric aircraft in action. In case of emergencies, this craft is more secure than standard aircraft as it can land anywhere over water," Rajesh added.

Route Planning

Waterfly Technologies intends to sell these aircraft to operators while focusing on manufacturing. “Though designed for water, it can also fly over ice, deserts, or any obstacle-free terrain,” Rajesh said.

The company dreams of the Chennai-Singapore route for the larger version capable of intercontinental travel by the year 2029.

Waterfly Technologies targets certification from Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by 2026. The first intercontinental route—Dubai to Los Angeles—is expected by 2029.

Funding And Development

Waterfly Technologies are currently receiving grants from IIT Madras and pursuing defence funding.

“We seek further funds to build a full-scale prototype and develop for cargo and surveillance application. This will pave the way for quicker deployment and, once proven, we will go for civilian use,” said Rajesh.

The Legacy Of Ground Effect Vehicles

The concept of ground-effect vehicles dates back to the 1960s, when these were developed for military use by the Soviet Union. Unlike those, Waterfly's seaglider aims at efficiency and commercial applicability.

"Pharma and electronics have shown interest because of its reduced costs and carbon footprint. Defence too has shown interest, and we are in discussion with the GRSE shipbuilders of India regarding possibilities with Coast Guards," Rajesh said.

"We are the team that built the first electric race car at IIT Madras, which secured consecutive national podiums and raced at the F1 Hockenheim track in Germany. We are mentored by eminent defence veterans and IIT Madras professors," Rajesh added.