VISAKHAPATNAM : The plan to introduce paragliding sport, which engaged adventure lovers of the city during Visakha Utsav, as a regular adventure sports has been in the offing for too long. Unfortunately, it did not materialise till date due to lack of proper proposal and delay from the stakeholders.
The National Adventure Foundation (NAF) which proposed the air adventure sports between July and August in 2016 was given permission for the feasibility checks and was into trials to check the favourable places and weather conditions at Bheemli, Rama Naidu Studio and Araku Valley. Yet this did not take off till date.
The paragliding grabbed the eyeballs of the huge crowds and received great response on the last two days of Visakha Utsav as it was granted permission on the second day.
“We have been checking the feasibility and found that Araku Valley was the best place for all air, aqua and terrain sports and in the city by the beach side.
We have to take care of the wires and cables and also take off and landing of the flights. We are very enthusiastic to introduce the adventure sports in the city but we are not getting the needed support from the government officials,” said Y Srinivasa Rao, director
of the NAF, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
“We have received tremendous response during the Visakha Utsav. It will be made regular sport as we received great response for parasailing, paramotor and paragliding can also be introduced as regular sports. We just need cooperation from the tourism sector, especially higher officials,” Srinivasa added.
“In the Visakha Utsav, the NAF has provided services and it received good response. Before this, there were two other companies which worked on trials near Sagar Nagar but the problem that arose in all the cases is detailed project report.
Once they come up with full clarity and submit proper report with venues for various sports then it can be proceeded further,” said R Sriramulu Naidu, executive director, APTDC, Visakhapatnam.