Date:17/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/17/stories/2008091756211100.htm

Tamil Nadu

Heli-tourism by January next

Staff Correspondent

BELLARY: The heli-tourism project is likely to take off in January next, according to G. Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Infrastructure Development and Tourism.

He was speaking to presspersons on Tuesday at the rocky hill range at Sangankal, the earliest village settlement in south India dating from Neolithic period.

“The project report is under way to introduce heli-tourism in coastal belt in Karwar and Mangalore, at Malnad and also at historical sites in Hampi and Bijapur under public-private partnership, and [it] will be ready soon. Meanwhile, there are plans to procure 10 helicopters each for the coastal area and for the Hampi-Bijapur circuit and five for the Malnad area around Shimoga,” he said.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy said that as part of developing the coastal corridor, the work of converting the existing 320-km two-lane road between Goa and Karwar into six lanes would also be started soon, in addition to constructing heliports and airstrips at suitable places.

About constructing an airport in Bellary, Mr. Janardhan Reddy said that around 1,000 acres of land had been identified near Sangankal, which would be around 10 km from the city, for the purpose.

“The runway of the existing airport in the city was small and there was no scope to expand it. The proposed airport would be developed to enable landing of bigger flights,” he said and added that the airport would continue to function to facilitate landing of smaller aircraft and serve as hangers for those owning helicopters.