VIJAYAWADA: The AP Capital Region Development Authority’s (CRDA) proposal to develop a marina in Amaravati seems to be getting a lukewarm response. The prospective bidders are sceptical about the viability of the project as the construction of the city is still at its preliminary stage. It may be recalled that CRDA has proposed Amaravati Marina in an eight-acre land at Venkatapalem with an estimated project cost of Rs40 crore.
The project, which would be taken up under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, is aimed at promoting water- based tourism, besides becoming a venue for national and international water sports events. The CRDA had invited Request For Proposal in March to which prospective developers responded by raising a few red flags regarding the project’s viability.
The interested developing firms, in order to assess the investment potential, have asked the CRDA if any study was made regarding tourism footfalls expected in Amaravati in the next 5-10 years. They observed: “Amaravati is a city under construction and it would take a minimum of four years for the (tourist) footfalls to happen.” Few others sought to know the practicability of the Amaravati Marina, which is proposed to have 60 berths.
“India’s biggest marina at Kochi has 42 berths. Amaravati Marina is proposed to have 60 berths. It will take more than 15 years for the marina to be utilised 100%,” said one of the developing firms interested in taking up the project.
The CRDA officials maintained they have provided the data regarding the expected tourist footfalls in Amaravati to the developers. “Since this project is proposed under PPP, it is a normal practice for the interested firms to raise red flags. We considered a few genuine issues and made changes in the terms and conditions of the RFP as per the request of the prospective bidders to make the project financially viable,” a senior official associated with the project explained.