Visakhapatnam’s heli tourism off to a flying start

Visakhapatnam boasts of the some of the most scenic locales in the country. Apart from its pristine beaches, the city also possesses an expansive stretch of lush green hills to keep the tourists enticed. While Visakhapatnam been emerging as a shining jewel in the state’s tourism crown, newer features being introduced make the city even more attractive. One such recent feature that has captivated many nature enthusiasts is that of heli tourism.

The long-awaited dream of getting a sight of Visakhapatnam from the skies has finally turned into a reality. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated heli tourism in the city on Saturday.

The trial runs, that were conducted on Saturday and Sunday, have received a roaring response. It has been learned that as many as 180 people have taken these rides to get the aerial sights of our beloved city. Several officials from the concerned departments were a part of these rides so as to gauge the required steps to be taken before the helicopters start operating in a full-fledged manner.

As per the reports, the windows of the choppers used were not able to facilitate an unobstructed view of the city. This will, however, be rectified before the project translates into a full-fledged one.

In order to ensure the safety of the passengers, the officials have decided to employ helicopters equipped with twin engines. It has also been reported that the temporary helipad at VUDA park, which is being used currently, will be substituted by a dedicated helipad at Rushikonda.

Once the helicopters start operating for the public, the tickets for heli tourism will be made available online through the websites of VUDA and Pawan Hans.