Telangana Tourism offers Helicopter rides from January

Hyderabad: The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation is going to offer an aerial view of Hyderabad from a helicopter from next year.

The introduction of heli-tourism enables the tourist to see Hyderabad from choppers. The rides over selected tourism spots, historical places and natural reserves are made easy to view which was inaccessible or difficult to visit.

Besides heli-tourism, seaplanes and hot-air balloons will also be launched for the tourist.

The corporation has written to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking permission for the helicopter tours, as the copters may have to fly over airbases at Dundigal and Hakimpet and the airports at Begumpet and Shamshabad.

The helicopter sightseeing service may start in January or February next. The former DGP and chairman of TSTDC ,P. Ramulu said.“We will invite global tenders for hiring one or two 20-seater helicopters for the heli-tours.” He added

Adilabad, Warangal, Mahbubnagar and Khammam are known for their beauty. “I once flew over Warangal and found it very enchanting. Ditto with Adilabad and Mahbubnagar, Our long rivers will be a pleasure to watch. So also Nallamala Hills and the other forest areas. But it will be a costly affair,” he said.

Mr Ramulu said the price will be fixed depending on what the corporation has to pay the companies leasing out the helicopters and Centre had recently sanctioned Rs 99 crore to the state to develop ecological tourism. “We will try to make it affordable to the best of our ability,” he said.