VISAKHAPATNAM: The much-awaited heli-tourism, expected to be launched this Dasara, has been postponed for 15 days owing to bad weather. The helipad was prepared along with other amenities in VUDA Park. According to the VUDA officials, the bad weather conditions with sudden rains is delaying the project launch.
To attract more tourists to the Smart City, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) has signed a memorandum f understanding (MoU) with Sky Choppers Logistics Private Limited for the launch of the project. Being the first-ever project in the city, people are excited. It is an added attraction for the tourists who arrive here from across the country. Out of the allotted 1.9 acre land for the helipad, the helipad was constructed in about half an acre itself. A control room will also be set up in a nearby building.
“We would have two helicopters for the tourists. One to fly the tourists to Bheemli, Kailasagiri, Rushikonda, Kambalakonda Park, Simhachalam and RK Beach in 15 minutes.
During the recent visit of the Sky Choppers team which has 15 years experience in operating helicopter service for pilgrimage centres like Vaishnodevi, Kedarnath and Amarnath, conducted feasibility studies for operation of helicopters and opined that the cyclonic weather conditions are not suitable for flying helicopter now. So we would plan to launch it in another 10-15 days,” said VUDA secretary A Srinivas.
The helicopter ervice would be Vizag to Araku in the morning and evening. This will give a wonderful experience to the tourists and will be launched in about two months. Each helicopter costs `16 crore,” he said. An helicopter can accommodate four persons and ticket cost will be approximately `1,500, he added.