VISAKHAPATNAM: Failed attempts in the past may have resulted in such ventures being met with pessimism. But this promoter promises that his project will take off in three months. And if that indeed happens, tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh and local businessmen can hop across various destinations in the state in seaplanes and helicopters.Sky Choppers Logistics Private Limited, a Chennai-based company, is planning to invest around Rs 25 crore for operating seaplane services between Visakhapatnam-Amaravati and Kakinada-Amaravati. At the same time, the firm is looking at launching helicopter rides from Vuda Park on the Vizag beach to Kailasgiri and extend it to Vuda Park and Araku in the next phase.“Many people have talked of introducing seaplane and chopper services in the region. But we will aim to be the pioneers in this sector in AP . The Prakasam Barrage will be the base for the first seaplane. As part of our first phase, we will introduce one seaplane in the next three months and later after about six months, we will launch the second aircraft,” C J Chandra Sekhar, business development director of Sky Choppers Logistics Private Limited, told STOI.According to him, the seaplane will ply twice daily between Vizag and Vijayawada and Kakinada and Vijayawada. “The price will be around Rs 3,000-Rs 3,500 per ride. The main advantage will be for businessmen travelling from Kakinada and Vizag to Vijayawada, who can go in the morning and after wrapping up their work, can return by evening,” said Sekhar. He said while the seaplane would land at the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada, in Vizag and Kakinada, the landings would be near Bheemli and a creek near Harita Beach resorts respectively.According to the promoter, the firm is ready for operations but it is the state which is yet to put in place the floating jetties and helipads. “I brought the delays to the notice of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu during his recent visit to the city to attend the CII Partnership Summit, and he directed the tourism department officials to immediately award the work for floating jetties and asked them to ensure that the services start in the next two to three months,” Sekhar said.As far as the helicopter rides in Vizag are concerned, the company is still to fix the tariff. “We have to conduct a trial run in Vizag for helicopter rides before fixing the prices as the cost for each minute is around Rs 3,000.” From Vizag, the chopper ride to Araku will take about 20-30 minutes and from Port City to Kailasgiri, a mere 10 minutes. “We are ready with our aircraft. If the floating jetties and helipads are ready, then we can start our operations,” he added.