Goemkarponn desk
OLD GOA: G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India, said his ministry and the Department of Tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation LTD(GTDC) intends to introduce Heli tourism as a new arm for the promotion of tourism activities in the state
To facilitate the same, Helipad has been constructed under, Development of Coastal Circuit I in Goa under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India at Old Goa, he said.
Today, the helipad at Old Goa was inaugurated by G. Kishan Reddy, and CM Dr. Pramod Sawant, Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Tourism & Ports, Shipping and Waterways Manohar Azgaonkar, Hon. Dy. Chief Minister & Tourism Minister, Dayanand Sopte, Hon. MLA and Chairman GTDC, Pandurang Madkaikar, MLA Cumbharjua Constituency, senior officials and Janita Madkaikar, Sarpanch, Village Panchayat Old Goa, board of directors of GTDC and Panchayat Members of Village Panchayat Old Goa.
The Department of Tourism acquired land at Old Goa, admeasuring 35,596 sq mtrs in survey no 28 and 27, 3 km from Old Goa Church and 10 kms from Panaji on the banks of river Mandovi. The said land hs been developed for Helitourism.
Regular Heli tours and related activities will be conducted from this site, which will promote high-end tourism in the state. Under this project VDF flooring for an area of 4550 sqms and a compound wall for a length of 490 mtrs for safety purposes has been constructed. Scope of work of Parking facilities for tourists, Reception with Coffee House, Access Tower for security, Parking Bay for Helicopter, Gated compound wall with barbed wire fencing, illumination on periphery of Helipad, Private access Road has been completed at a total cost of rupees 4.9 cr. The site would be handed over to an operations and management partner for which tendering process is underway to select the eligible bidder. Heli tours from the site are expected to begin in December 2021 after all the permissions and approvals are in place.
