VISAKHAPATNAM: After an oceanarium was proposed in Visakhapatnam, speculations are rife that the project will be grounded near Rushikonda as the district administration has agreed to provide 10 acres for the purpose.
Oceanarium is a simulated habitat housing marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers, even sharks.
Recently, an expert team from Spain and Kerala, along with the state government officials, have visited the site. The project needs an investment of Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore.
The team is learnt to have zeroed in on Rushikonda after inspecting many feasible sites at Madhurawada and Bheemili.
Officials say that as the proposed oceanarium requires huge quantity of seawater, Madhurawada and Bheemili sites are ruled out for their locations being away from the sea coast.
The state government is promoting tourism in a big way by creating many unique attractions in the state. In view of this, recently a businessman from West Godavari district evinced interest to set up the oceanarium.
The government also expressed its interest to ink an MoU with the private organisation which came forward with the proposal.
If the proposal materialises, it will be the first of its kind in the state and also enable visitors as well as the researchers to study various rare marine animals.
Experts estimate the cost to be nearly Rs 300-400 crore and the government is mulling PPP mode.
According to the proposal, the oceanarium will be a five-storey tunnel shape structure with a 360 degree view and accommodate 2,500 persons at a time. It will have 20,000 marine species imported from various countries. For the project, the Central government permission is necessary and the state tourism officials are now on the job.
According to the district authorities, the project will be very useful for universities and researchers. Nearly 10 acre land be provided at Rushikonda for it.
“The government has asked the private organisation to submit a detailed project report (DPR) on its proposal in six months. Only after finalising the DPR and signing of the MoU, the project works will start. Now it is still in the drawing board stage,” a tourism official said.