A Kerala firm has offered to start seaplane joyrides in Hussainsagar.
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Hyderabad: A Kerala firm has offered to start seaplane joyrides in Hussainsagar and other select water bodies in the state. A team of officials from Kerala Seaplane would meet tourism officials after Sankranti. Seaplane joyrides are a big hit in the Andamans. The Kerala government has struck a deal with the same company for joy rides in Kochi and other places.
The Hussainsagar has been found to be fit to operate amphibious aircraft that can take off and land on land and water. Telangana tourism secretary B. Venkatesam told Deccan Chronicle on Saturday that the government was considering implementing the seaplane plan under public private partnership). “We are considering running the service at Hussainsagar. Nagar-junasagar and other water bodies would also be linked once it is successful,” he said. A 15-minute trip may cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per head from Hussainsagar while a longer trip to Nagarjunasagar could be in the range of Rs 9,000. Each plane can carry up to 10 tourists.
A 20-minute seaplane ride in the Andamans costs Rs 4,100 for the trip from Port Blair to Havelock Island. “The rates have to be worked out. We have agreed to create facilities and secure clearances. They have informed us that it costs Rs 3 lakh a day to park a seaplane. Unless it makes a sufficient trips, it will not be economical. We will extend all support for the project,” Dr Venkatesam said. Asked about proposed city helicopter joy rides that were to begin December 25, he said it was put off since another helicopter company had offered a more competitive price. “We have two helicopter operators vying with each other. We will take the best offer price for tourists,” he said.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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