VISAKHAPATNAM: If everything goes well, Mangamaripeta beach would soon be a zone for water sports. The long pending proposal to have water sports activities is going to materialise as the district administration has started spadework.
After the project hung for a long time, the district administration has finally asked the officials of Tourism department to appoint an architect consultancy to make the Mangamaripeta region a water sports hub with several games and activities.
Already, the naturally formed rock arch at the Mangamaripeta beach, located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam is among the major tourist attractions in the city for it is a geological monument. The rocks are part of the Eastern Ghats, which the experts say is a ‘recent marine geological activity’ of about 6,000 years.
Sources from the tourism department said that district collector Pravin Kumar had asked them to appoint an architect consultancy, which after visiting the place would prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) without disturbing the current eco-system.
“The consultancy should prepare a DPR for the overall project. As per the collector, the DPR should have a jetty, landscaping, approach road, restaurant and other amenities for tourists, making it a complete sports zone,” said a senior tourism official from the city.
Already the Manmaripeta region is abuzz with sports activities. The scenic beach has been attracting a number of sports lovers and local crowds throng the beach on weekends. A number of youth have been thronging for kaykaying in the backwaters of Mangamaripeta. Some water sports activities like jet skiing, banana rides and others have been receiving good response.