Helicopter rides for tourist sites in Telangana from January next year

Hyderabad: Tourists to the state will be able to get a bird’s-eye view of some of the most scenic spots from next year, from helicopters. The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation will be offering helicopter rides over select tourism spots, historical places and natural reserves which are otherwise inaccessible or difficult to visit.

The corporation has written to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking permission for the helicopter tours, as the copters may have to fly over airbases at Dundigal and Hakimpet and the airports at Begumpet and Shamshabad.

If all goes well, the helicopter sightseeing service may start in January or February next. “We will invite global tenders for hiring one or two 20-seater helicopters for the heli-tours,” said former DGP and chairman of TSTDC P. Ramulu.

Mr Ramulu said Adilabad, Warangal, Mahbubnagar and Khammam are known for their beauty. “I once flew over Warangal and found it very enchanting. Ditto with Adilabad and Mahbubnagar,” he told DC. “Our long rivers will be a pleasure to watch. So also Nallamala Hills and the other forest areas. But it will be a costly affair,” he said.

He said the price will be fixed depending on what the corporation has to pay the companies leasing out the helicopters. “We will try to make it affordable to the best of our ability,” he said.

Mr Ramulu said the Centre had recently sanctioned Rs 99 crore to the state to develop ecological tourism.