Helitourism plans fail to take off in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: The launch of the much-awaited helitourism project seems to be delayed due to bad weather conditions in Vizag. As per the schedule, the project was supposed to start on October 11, marking the Dasara festival. But heavy rain delayed the construction of helipad and restrooms at VUDA Park in the city and the project is yet to get clearance from the Director General of Civil Aviation for operations.

On August 24, Sky Choppers Logistics Private Limited signed an agreement with Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority to launch the helitourism programme to take short distance (VUDA Park to Kailasagiri, VUDA Park to Bheemili) as well as long distance (VUDA Park to Araku Valley) travel between major tourism destinations in Vizag. As per the MoU, VUDA agreed to construct a helipad and three rooms at around 2-acre land in VUDA Park, and VUDA would charge '50,000 per month from Sky Choppers for providing the facilities.

VUDA vice-chairman T. Babu Rao Naidu said: “The works related with helipad in VUDA Park were finished and a small portion of black topping will be completed by October 9. We have asked the management of Sky Choppers to launch the chopper service from Dasara as we had made an announcement. I hope they will see that the first helicopter takes off on Dasara.” However, C.J. Chandrasekhar of Sky Choppers said they had originally planned to start helitourism from Dasara, but the project got delayed due various reasons, including bad weather conditions in Vizag.

Sources said that the DGCA authorities were yet to inspect the helipad and other arrangements made at VUDA Park for operation of helitourism service. If all goes as per the re-plans, the management of the Sky Chopper might get clearance from the DGCA for operations by October-end and the helitourism service might take off in the first week of November.