Visakhapatnam: The proposed and much delayed heli-tourism ser-vice in Vizag city set to take off shortly with the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda)) chalking out pla-ns to re-enter an MoU with the Sky Choppers Logistics Private Limited (SCLPL) to operate its heli-tourism services.
Vuda had signed an MoU with SCLPL in 2016 to launch the heli-touri-sm from October 11, 2016 but had almost cancelled the deal after the plan fa-iled to take off as scheduled.
Sources in Vuda said that though Vuda had planned to enter MoU with public sector helicopter service company Pawan Hans to operate its heli-tourism services, it may re-enter an MoU with SCLPT again to operate the heli-tourism services. The private firm has claimed that the demonetisation drive coupled with some other reasons were behind the failure of scheduled start of the service earlier. Now the private firm has expressed interest in launching the operations, sources added.
As per the previous MoU, the private firm was to operate the heli-tourism services from Vuda Park to Kailasa-giri, Vuda Park to Bheemili as well as Vuda Park to Araku Valley.
The firm also planned to operate sea planes between Vijayawada and Kakinada and Vijayaw-ada and Vizag landing near Bheemili area in Vizag. Vuda constructed a helipad and three rest-rooms at Vuda Park in the city for the project to attract more tourists.
A senior officer with Vuda and the representatives of SCLPL said that the private firm has been working out the logistics to launch the heli-touri-sm project and if all goes as per plans it would be materialised within a month. The project laun-ched can cover the scenic beauty of Vizag city and Araku Valley that can be better seen and enjoyed in a bird’s view, they added.
