Hovercraft rides to be launched in March

Visakhapatnam: The much-awaited hovercraft is expected to be launched in forthcoming March. Presently, the operating agency Hoverdocks is conducting trial runs at Bhogapuram beach in Vizianagaram district. The operating agency procured four hovercraft from Russia at a cost of Rs 5 crore to operate tourist rides on the blue waters. As it will be the first of its kind in tourist attraction in the country, there are big expectations on the project.

The Hoverdocks agency has already obtained permissions from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Visakhapatnam Port Trust to operate the hovercraft mostly from RK Beach to Tenneti Park. In fact, the project was supposed to be started by the end of December 2017. The operating agency expected limited crowds and is conducting trial runs at the Bhogapuram beach in Vizianagaram district. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation allotted 3,700 sq.yards land (opposite to AU ladies hostel) on the beach front to Hoverdocks. 

In fact, the operating agency has planned several water sports and the hovercraft attraction is the first one. There are other events like fly-boarding, jetski, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, para-sailing and speed boat which are under consideration of the operating agency.

“Two numbers of 5-seater capacity hovercraft already on the trail run at Bhogapuram beach. The other two craft are in the transit. Total three 5-seater craft procured at Rs 3.3 crore and 7-seater craft at Rs 1.7 crore. We are expecting the ride to be to a maximum of 15 minutes (to and pro) and the tariff will be between Rs 300 and Rs 500,” Rudraraju Chaitayna, managing director of the operating agency Hoverdocks told The Hans India.

The pilots are obtained the certificates, including fire-fighting, swimming and first aid. Only one pilot leads the craft. “We are investing over Rs 8 crore in the project. Once the hovercraft project is completed, we have to look about the other attractions. We have obtained permission to run the hovercraft from sunrise to sunset. The site which was allotted to run the hovercraft is completely land only. The hovercraft ride will be the centre of attraction of Visakhapatnam in the near future,” Chaitanya added.