Seaplane project set to get airborne

Routes along Andhra Pradesh coast are being identified. he project is expected to generate lot of enthusiasm among tourists as the small plane would take off and land on water bodies.

July 29, 2014 09:31 pm | Updated June 07, 2016 03:16 am IST - HYDERABAD:

File photo of the first amphibian aircraft deployed by the Kerala Tourism for its Seaplane operations. Photo: K_K_Mustafah

File photo of the first amphibian aircraft deployed by the Kerala Tourism for its Seaplane operations. Photo: K_K_Mustafah

Tourists visiting coastal Andhra Pradesh in the near future can have an aerial view of the beaches, hills and other scenic spots with the State Government deciding to launch Seaplane Project.

The government has decided in-principle to launch the project and a MoU would soon be signed with one of the operators, official sources told The Hindu here on Tuesday. Seaplane services were already in operation in Andamans and Nicobar Islands, while Goa is planning to launch them soon.

The project is expected to generate lot of enthusiasm among tourists as the small plane would take off and land on water bodies.

Sources said that the routes along Andhra Pradesh’s coast were being worked for operation of seaplane services.

As part of giving a fillip to tourism in the State, the government has identified 20 projects, including a few mega eco-tourism initiatives. A majority of these projects, including an international convention centre, would be taken in public-private partnership mode and an advertisement calling for expression of interest would be issued on Wednesday, the sources said.

Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, Maredumilli in East Godavari are among the destinations for mega eco-tourism projects.

The other projects include hotels, amusement parks, eco-resorts and a science city. The amusement parks are proposed to be set up in Visakhapatnam and near Nagarjunasagar in Guntur district, while Science City is also expected to come up in Visakhapatnam.

Review meet Meanwhile at a review meeting called by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, various steps needed to make Andhra Pradesh an attractive tourist destination and the role of tourism as one of the growth engines in the development of State were discussed.

It was mainly emphasised that giving a boost to tourism would generate more employment opportunities.

Steps needed to transform places with temples into tourist centres and promoting beach tourism along the coastline in the State also figured at the meeting.

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