Heli-tourism project delayed due to weather

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BANGALORE: The launch of the much awaited Karnataka State Tourism Department's ambitious Helitourism project has been delayed onc..

BANGALORE: The launch of the much awaited Karnataka State Tourism Department's ambitious Helitourism project has been delayed once again on the advice of the aviation experts.
Department of Tourism director K Viswanatha Reddy said, "According to the aviation experts the skies in the state will be very cloudy in July and August. Therefore, we have decided to launch the project in September in accordance with the advise of the experts." "We have already entered into an agreement with the Delhi based Om Sathya Sai Airlines Ltd to launch one of the four circuits that we had planned," he added. The company has already pressed two six seater helicopters into service and have already made necessary arrangements.The department had originally planned to start helitourism in four circuits Heritage Circuit, Malnad Circuit, Religious Circuit and Beach Circuit and had started to develop infrastructure for the Heritage Circuit. Heritage city Hampi will act as the base camp for this circuit, in which the people will be taken to Badami, Aihole, Pattadkallu and Bijapur.

The tourism department has already constructed helipads at Badami and Bijapur and has entered into an agreement with Jindal to use their air strip Kamalapura for launching helitourism. Tourists would be taken to Aihole and Pattadkallu in taxis from Badami as they are situated within the radius of 25 km. The department is already in the process of constructing a lounge, cafeteria and other facilities at the base camp in Hampi and the facilities are expected to be ready before September.

Besides flying the tourists to these destinations in helicopters, the department of tourism will take them to the important sites and temples around these destinations in taxis.