New Year to Mark Launch of Heli-Toursim to Key Tourist Destinations

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 8: The High and Mighty as well as the well-heeled affluent, including foreign tourists, can look forward to New Year 2011 for more comfort and a luxurious mode of travel to important tourist destinations in Karnataka with heli-tourism service.

Helicopter services to some of the most famous internationally known tourist destinations in the state are proposed to be provided from the first week of next month, according to state tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy.

The all powerful Bellary mining lord, who recently led a 10-member business delegation to European countries for promoting tourism in the State, told presspersons on Wednesday that the heli-tourism covering Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal and Ihole would become operational immediately after elections to zilla and taluk panchayat in the state.

''We had planned to commence operations from January 1 itself," he said pointing out that the model code of conduct enforced in the state following the announcement of the zilla and taluk panchayat polls on December 26 and 31 and the counting on January 4 necessitated in delaying the launch.

''It will now commence after January 4," the minister said.

The State Tourism Department signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Delhi-based Om Satya Sai (OSS) Air Management to operate heli-tourism.

To start with, the operations would commence with one helicopter. Depending on the availability of tourists, the operations would be increased.

The heli-tourism service would be operated on public private partnership, Reddy said.

Under the agreement, heli-services would be initially operated in the heritage circuit connecting the world heritage sites of Hampi and Pattadkal besides offering heli-connectivity to Badami, Aihole and Bijapur.

Heli-tourism has also been proposed for Malnad as well as Coastal and Pilgrimage circuits.

The government would provide heli-station, fuel station, pilot resting, waiting hall, food court, and other facilities to ensure that the operator would not incur financial loss.

Five passengers would be taken on a helicopter and the tour would be completed in a day, the minister said.

''We want to provide value to the experience of tourists. Tourists will receive information about the significance of heritage spots," he explained.

Apart from the foreign tourists, he said the department and the operator would be targeting domestic tourists also, Reddy said.

OSS Air Management Pvt. Ltd. has a presence in Karnataka with the company providing helicopter services to the chief minister.

Night Wild-Life Safari at Bannerghatta

The state government will soon invite tenders for executing the proposed night wildlife safari at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) here.

Reddy said tenders would be invited next month for the execution of the project, which has received an approval from the Zoo Authority of India.

The project would become operational within two years, he said.

Answering questions on Forest Ministe C H Vijayashankar’s opposition to the proposal, he said the Forest Minister was unaware of the benefits of the project.

''It will not cause any adverse affect to the wildlife there," he said pointing out that he had proposed the night safari at the park to attract more tourists.

Battery operated cars would take tourists around the Park from 7 pm to midnight under the moonlight. There was no issue related to the project pending before the High Court of Karnataka, he asserted.