VISAKHAPATNAM : SOON Visakhapatnam will have a separate tourism police station to ensure safety of both domestic and foreign tourists. In an exclusive interview to Express, collector N Yuvaraj said that a separate wing of police would deal with cases, including harassment at tourist destinations, thefts, snatching, cab drivers’ menace and missing complaints and etc.
Visakhapatnam has large tourist inflow not only from various states but also from foreign countries. Pristine beaches, Simhachalam devasthanam, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Buddhist heritage sites at Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Bojjannakonda and picturesque Araku Valley, Visakhapatnam district every year records over a lakh tourists’ footfalls. In case of any complaints or any issue among tourists, they have to go to the law and order police. A separate tourism police station is mulled to help out the visitors.
“Many tourist places in India like Goa and Chennai have separate wings of police for tourists. So there are proposals for tourism police in Vizag too,” said assistant district tourism officer Lakshman.
Some tourists may lose their luggage, in case of any harassment by locals, menace by cab drivers or any kind of issues, they could complain to the police. “We have been launching more and more tourism programmes and expect more tourists in future. Tourism police station will be definitely of help,” he said.
A senior police officer said that every year Dumbriguda, Araku and Ananthagiri police receive hoards of complaints on fleecing by cabbies. Even in Vizag, cases of menace by locals at tourist spots like Kailasagiri, Bheemili and Thotlakonda come to notice. The officer also said that the tourism police would have patrolling vehicles near the airport, railway station, beaches and the zoo park where tourist movement is more. Most probably, there would be a separate helpline number. Setting up a separate wing would free the law and order police of burden, he said.
“There will be instant response to incidents like theft, cheating, accidents, eve-teasing and harassment. After the preparation of DPR, we could reveal more details. Once we send the DPR ascertaining our requirements, the government will take the final call,” said another officer from the district administration.
Beach safety
However, the district administration is taking several measures immediately to ensure beach safety. Around 10 towers are to be set up along with new warning boards in several languages advising people not to venture into sea. Yuvaraj said that the community guards wing will also be strengthened, associating them to CSR.
Tourist-friendly policing
After the preparation of DPR, we can reveal more details. Once we send the DPR, the govt will take the final call A tourism officer