Several projects are being planned by the government to improve amenities at popular beaches in the district, Tourism Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao said on Sunday.
Inaugurating a number of facilities including a restaurant at Yarada beach, built at a cost of ₹2 crore, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the development of amenities was needed keeping in view the rise in number of beach tourists.
“Tourists from many States visit Visakhapatnam for its pristine beaches. Beach tourism will have a lot of potential for growth in the coming years. The department is making all efforts to develop beaches by constructing food zones and providing amenities for tourists,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.
“Yarada is one of the best beaches in Andhra Pradesh. A number of movies are being shot here for the last 40 years. More facilities would be provided at this beach apart from the beachfront project,” the Minister said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao also said that road transport facilities to Yarada beach from various parts of Visakhapatnam city would be improved.
Visakhapatnam MP M.V.V. Satyanarayana said that beach tourism would also provide employment opportunities to the local youth.
Record effort
Tourism Department Regional Director A. Radha Krishna Murthy said that the ₹2 crore beachfront project has been constructed over an area of five acres.
“Started in 2018, the project was finished in a year. It includes an AC restaurant, six large shacks/shandies, five small shacks/shandies, a play arena for children, eight small umbrella shacks/sheds, toilets, and a place for cultural programme with two shacks,” he said.
Mr. Radha Krishna Murthy added that the Tourism Department has finished the project and handed it over to the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). APTDC has signed an MoU with a Hyderabad-based agency to run the beachfront project.
“At present, the agency will finish some landscaping on the premises and open the place for tourists very soon,” he added.
Gajuwaka MLA T. Nagi Reddy and Anakapalle MLA Gudivada Amarnath were present.
