JOIN USHeli-tourism from Hampi in January
Touted to be the first of its kind in the country, the project will have three choppers to ferry tourists to Badami, Aihole, Pattadkal and Bijapur which form the heritage circuit in the State tourism map.
Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy told reporters that the government has signed an MoU with Om Satya Sai Air Management Pvt. Ltd to launch the project. Heli-station, fuel station and other basic infrastructure required for the project would be provided by the government. “The government has agreed to share the loss, if any”, he said.
Fare for the heli-tour package is yet to be worked out by the private partner, said Tourism Director K Vishwanath Reddy. The government had promised the operator business of at least 30 hours a month. In case the company fails to attract tourists to fly for 30 hours, the government would bear the loss component.
“But if the company has good business for more than 30 hours in a month, the government will get 10 percent of the profit earned from such trips”, he added. The final agreement on profit sharing and subsidy would be signed soon.
Night Safari
Janardhana Reddy said there were no differences between him and Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar on introducing Night Safari in Bannerghatta national park.
“Now, he has realised the importance of the project. Once, it is implemented, flow of tourists to Bangalore will increase considerably. The project is still at the tendering stage. It will be implemented in next year,” he said.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Department had shown interest in having an understanding with the Karnataka government for development of tourism sector in both countries, the Minister added. A delegation from Sri Lanka met him in Bangalore on Wednesday.
The Minister said the government had taken up infrastructure projects involving an expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore. This includes high-speed rail connecting Bangalore City with the Bangalore International Airport in Devanahalli and development of 6,000 km of roads across the State.
Tatas, Reliance and Lanco have shown interest to take up high speed rail project and have sought documents pertaining to the project. Their response was awaited. The project, with total investment of Rs 6,000 crore, would ease traffic to BIAL.