Visakhapatnam: While police in others cities have been encouraging tourists by allowing the beaches and public places upto midnight for promotion of tourism, Vizag police are clamping curbs on the city’s beaches as early as 11 pm though Vizag is attracting more visitors than others cities in the state.
The city police came under criticism for not allowing the tourists and locals in the city at the beaches for relaxing after 11 pm and some tourists alleged that the police on the beach road have harassing the visitors citing security reasons and their safety.
President of the Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and Industry A.V. Monish Row said that though AP government has been trying to promote tourism for the past few years to create employment and to improve the brand image of Vizag, city police have imposing restrictions at RK Beach by not allowing the tourists as well as locals after 10.30 pm.
In a meeting on promotion of tourism, members of Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and Industry have listed out various initiatives which could be taken up at a city level to boost tourism.
The city police chief, who has participated in the meeting, has agreed that visitors and citizens can enjoy at the RK Beach and spend time there till as late as they wished as long as there were no unlawful activities.
But, the cops have allowed the visitors and citizens at the beach up to midnight for a few days only and now the cops are not allowing anyone citing various reasons.
It is very unfortunate that police have started harassing citizens who are visiting the beach at night to enjoy with their friends and family. Now even tourists who come in peak winter are complaining that they are not allowed to relax on the benches after 10.30 pm, pointed out Mr Monish Row.
In a letter to city police chief, Mr Monish Row and others have requested the police to take steps to promote the brand image of Vizag saying that more complaints in this regard would dent Vizag’s tourism image.
