Vizag beaches to receive tourism fillip

Plans afoot to develop Mangamaripeta and Yarada

New facility: A view of the picturesque Yarada beach that is being proposed to be developed with tourist amenities by the AP Tourism Development Corporation.

The beaches of Visakhapatnam are set to come alive with water sports, shacks, restaurants and jetties as part of a series of projects being taken up by the AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to make the city a global tourist destination. After opening the beach shacks at Thotlakonda last year, the APTDC is planning to develop the beaches of Mangamaripeta and Yarada along the same lines.

A team of tourism officials recently visited Yarada, a virgin beach stretch located 15 km from the city, to prepare a project plan and estimates for developing the beach with tourist amenities. Nestled between hills on three sides and the azure waters of the Bay of Bengal on one side, Yarada is an ideal weekend spot for a day out.

Popular destination

“Principal Secretary of Tourism N. Srikanth visited the beach this week and has directed the department to prepare estimates and plans for developing Yarada beach. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The Mangamaripeta beach is being developed at the cost of ₹2 crore, which will include a temporary jetty, beach shacks and water sports,” Executive Director of APTourism Development Corporation R. Sreeramulu Naidu told The Hindu .

Currently, water sports activities like kayaking, jet skiing, banana rides and zorbing are being conducted at the Mangamaripeta beach. Once the tourism project is completed, it will give further fillip to this beachside location that has already become a popular weekend destination.

This apart, the APTDC is developing the scenic valleys of Lambasingi, often referred to as the ‘Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh’ for its sub-zero temperature during winter, at a cost of ₹5 crore.

Situated more than 1,000 metres above mean sea level in the hills of Eastern Ghats, Lambasingi is 16 km from Chintapalli on the Chintapalli-Narsipatnam ghat road.

Another tiny hamlet of Dallapalli, also located in the Eastern Ghats at an altitude of 3,500 feet above the sea level, is being developed at a cost of ₹3 crore.