Heli-tourism project launch postponed

BANGALORE: The tourism department has once again postponed the launch of the much-hyped Heli-tourism project that was scheduled to be launched in September, as the chief minister who is in-charge of the department, after the former tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy had to demit the office, is busy.Principal Secretary, Tourism, N C Muniyappa said, “The former minister was eager to inaugurate at least one of the four identified circuits, in September and we had also initiated the process for the same.However, after the new government was formed the tourism department is under the chief minister.As he is very busy it might take some time for us to launch the heli-tourism project in the state.” The tourism ministry had earlier announced that it would launch one of the four identified circuits in September.The department had also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Delhi-based Om Sathya Sai Air Management for the same and according to the agreement the agency was supposed to ply two new helicopters in the heritage circuit - Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole and Bijapur - that was supposed to be inaugurated first.The department was eager to launch the heritage circuit first because Hampi, Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal are included under the UNESCO world heritage sites and many international tourists visit these sites every year.The other three circuits are the coastal circuit which includes visits to Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur, Gokarna and Karwar, Malnad Circuit which includes Shimoga, Chickmagalur and Hassan and religious circuit which includes Kollur, Udupi, Hornadu, Sringeri, Karkala, Dharmasthala and Kukke Subramanya.The tourism department had initiated works to establish 28 helipads and construct lounges and other facilities at the above mentioned destinations to launch heli-tourism in the state and has nearly completed the works that were awarded in heritage circuit