Visakhapatnam: Minister for small industries and NRI affairs Kondpalli Srinivas launched adventure water sports at Thatipudi Reservoir in Vizianagaram district on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Vizianagaram MLA P. Adhithi Gajapathi Raju stated that the state government has decided to encourage tourism under the PPP mode and as a part of it NRI sport agency Simple India has launched this project.
He said in the first phase water taxies and speed boats have been launched and in the second phase adventure water sports will be organised. In the third phase house boats and floating cottages in the water body will be introduced. The developers have spent Rs 5 crore on the boats, he said.
The minister said ``Local youths will be trained and appointed as staff members of this project.’’ The agency would maintain safety standards on par with US and other developed countries, he added.
In the ensuing days, lighting would be improved for the tourists and toilets and restrooms would be built, he remarked.
Toorpu Kapu Corporation chairperson Palavalasa Yasaswini said water sports and boating would be a big attraction for the tourists. She said thousands of people visit this picturesque water body every day.
Executive of the project G. Papa Rao said having experience in adventure water sports in the US, he launched projects in Telangana, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
He said those who obtained licences from the National Institute of Water Sports were given jobs as pilots.
He said tourists would be charged Rs 100, Rs 150 and Rs 200 depending on the size of the boat. Sports would be open from 9 am to 6 pm every day, he added.
