AP tourism proposes 'heli-tourism' in Hyderabad

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is planning to revive its heli-tourism project, which will offer a bird's eye view of historical sites in the city and elsewhere in the region.

APTDC plans to introduce helicopter rides for tourists, in association with private firms.

It had sought to introduce this facility a couple of years ago but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation did not clear the proposal.

At the recently held India Aviation-2014 conclave, the Corporation officials took up the issue with Civil Aviation Ministry authorities, who sought a concrete proposal.

"We had a preliminary round of meeting with Civil Aviation Ministry officials. We discussed issues like coordination between different stakeholders for the project.

"We are now identifying the prospective circuits for heli-tourism," a senior official of APTDC told PTI.

Civil Aviation Joint Secretary G Ashok Kumar, who belongs to AP cadre of IAS, assured APTDC that he would coordinate with the DGCA for requisite clearances and licenses and also asked the Corporation authorities to convene a meeting with private helicopter operators to work out modalities.

"Many private operators are interested...We will discuss our plans with them next week," the APTDC official said.

"Warangal is a heritage city to which we can organise helicopter rides. There are other places like Vikarabad and Bhadrachalam that could also be developed as heli-tourism spots," the official said.

A helipad is being built on APTDC's premises near Tank Bund here for operation of short-distance services and city tour.

"We want to kick-start the project soon after the elections," the official said.