New beachfront at Thotlakonda

Visakhapatnam: A new beachfront and shacks near Thotlakoinda, a 2,000- year-old Buddhist shrine, is coming up soon. Travel agents said this could be the third best spot after the RK Beach and Rushikonda. The front has a park with sprawling lawns and landscape, four food courts with spacious dining space and other tourist amenities.

APTDC has signed an agreement for operation and maintenance of this new beachfront and shacks at Thotlakonda with VVLN Murty, a private operator. The operator will develop and maintain the recreation facilities for the visiting tourists. The period of service agreement is for 10 years.

As a part of beachfront development and also to create recreation facilities to the tourists, APTDC has constructed the shacks at Thotlakonda Beach during last year at a cost of Rs 2.80 crore which has four shacks, restaurant, changing rooms, parking space, party lawns and public amenities.

The operator will be liable for recreation facilities for the visiting tourists like beach furniture ( 30 recliners, 30 umbrellas), beach leisure activities ( live music, climbing, grip wall climbing, jammer wall climbing, rappelling), aiming games, beach volleyball,

soccer, beach cricket, obstacle races, miniature golf, beach throw ball games, pool tables, beach table tennis, innovative games like Pugil Stick Fighting, Sumo wrestling in inflated suites, costume competitions and rides.

The objective is to introduce such kind of initiative is to attract tourists in a bigger way and to provide reliable services to tourist, said a senior official.