The Hindu Business Line : APTDC mulls cruise liner from Vizag to Andamans

The Tourism Minister, Ms J. Geetha Reddy, at the Borra Caves near the Araku valley during her visit to the Visakhapatnam district on Monday and Tuesday. - C.V. Subrahmanyam

Visakhapatnam , May 31

THE Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is planning to introduce a cruise liner from here to the Andamans via Chennai soon.

The Minister for Tourism, Ms J. Geeta Reddy, told reporters at the Araku Valley on Monday that the cruise liner project was expected to cost Rs 35-40 crore.

After visiting various tourist facilities in places including Jungle Bell at Tyda, Borra Caves, Anantagiri and Araku Valley, she said the State Government had submitted the feasibility report to the Union Government. The Centre would partly bear the cost of the project.

On the recent introduction of a cruise liner from Fishing Harbour to the Old Light House in the city, she said though it had been launched on a trial basis, the response was quite encouraging.

Green Valley train: She said that a train christened Green Valley would be introduced between Vizag and Araku Valley at a cost of Rs10 crore in collaboration with the Railways.

The train would have three AC and five non-AC coaches. She said that the Centre had agreed to grant Rs 7.5 crore for the project.

In reply to a question, she said that the Government would develop a tourist circuit with 60 more rooms, entrance plaza, arches, tourist bazaar, crafts village and one artificial lake here and two more at Machkund at a total cost of Rs 10 crore.

The Minister said that the Government had plans to construct 25 more cottages, a recreation centre and lounge at Rushikonda resorts at Vizag at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The expansion of Punnami Yatri Nivas was also on the cards with a conference hall, restaurant and roof garden with an outlay of Rs 50 lakh.

Anantagiri project: After reviewing construction of cottages at the Anantagiri hill resort, she said that the work on the Rs 4-crore project with 28 cottages, banquet hall, multi-cuisine restaurant, gym and an ayurveda treatment and massage centre would be completed within next three months.

She said that the Rajasekhara Reddy Government was attaching top priority to tourism. Vizag was being promoted as an ideal tourist destination in the State, she added.

She visited several other tourist spots in the district on Tuesday.

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