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Heli-tourism to take off on Sept 9
The much awaited heli-tourism is to take off from September 9 in Tirupati if everything goes on expected lines. The officials concerned from AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) and Mak Aero Space and Aviation Pvt Ltd have expedited the works of constructing a helipad for the purpose.
Tirupati: The much awaited heli-tourism is to take off from September 9 in Tirupati if everything goes on expected lines. The officials concerned from AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) and Mak Aero Space and Aviation Pvt Ltd have expedited the works of constructing a helipad for the purpose.
Temporarily, the exhibition grounds on the backside of Srinivasam, was selected to operate the services. According to the MoU inked between APTDC and Mak Aero Space and Aviation Pvt Ltd, the company will operate helicopter services in the pilgrim city. For now, only joy rides are conducted covering Tirupati, Chandragiri and Tiruchanoor, said the Regional Director of Mak Aero Space SA Sabeer said.
Speaking to The Hans India in Tirupati on Tuesday, he said, each trip will be of 10-12 minutes duration which will make the travellers to have an aerial view of the entire area.
They are planning to operate a minimum of 10 trips each day. They are expecting huge demand during the 9-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara which will begin on September 23.
During the Brahmotsavams, regular trips will be operated. Once the Utsavams are over, a decision will be taken on the number of trips and number of days in a week on which the services are to be operated, said Sabeer.
He said they are planning to fix the fare at Rs 2000-2500 for which the government has to give its nod.
Bell 206 helicopter with six seats or 7-seater Bell 407 helicopter will be pressed into use here. Tourism and Culture Secretary M K Meena and APTDC MD Himanshu Shukla were taking special interest in this project, Sabeer said.
After Tirupati, heli-tourism will be launched in Visakhapatnam and then in Vijayawada.
If there is any problem to launch the joy rides on September 9, within the next two to three days it will begin, he said. APTDC Divisional Manager R V Suresh Kumar Reddy said that they have received all the permissions to operate helicopter services. For two to three months, the services will be operated from the exhibition grounds.
Later, they will be shifted to Shilparamam after works are completed there. There are plans to introduce several packages to Gandikota, Kanipakam and Srikalahasti.
Also, they are contemplating with the idea of hiring the helicopter for private parties under marriage packages etc. Even there is an idea of operating the service between Chennai and Tirupati with darshan package at Tirumala, explained Suresh Reddy.
