Vizag to get giant Ferris wheel soon like London Eye & Singapore Flyer

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 2, 2013: If everything goes as per plan, in a few years, Vizag will have its own giant Ferris wheel, Vizag Eye, on the lines of London Eye and latest tourist attraction to the island nation Singapore Flyer.

After identifying the city’s tourism potential and its rich natural resources, the union government in 2011 entrusted the job of preparing a blue print of ‘attractions’ to be set up in Vizag to Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL & FS).

Accordingly, the IL & FS officials have prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for around 11 mega tourism projects at a cost of Rs 1,800 cr. Of the 11, around 5 projects at a cost of Rs 850 cr were approved in principle by the union tourism ministry recently. 

Global tenders were also called for 5 projects. Around 29 submitted their technical and financial bids, out of which, 28 were qualified. The tourism department will very soon finalise the tenders after receiving request of proposals from the successful qualified bidders.

Of the remaining, 6 projects, Vizag eye, would be the major tourist attraction, said, IL & FS, vice president and south head, S Srinivas.

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the river Thames in London. The entire structure is 135 metres- 443 ft tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres- 394 ft. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually.  The Singapore Flyer was constructed between 2005 and 2008. Described by its operators as an observation wheel, it reaches 42 stories high, with a total height of 165 m- 541 ft, making it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world 5 m -16 ft) taller than the Star of Nanchang and 30 m -98 ft) taller than the London Eye.

Situated on the southeast tip of the Marina Centre reclaimed land Singapore Flyer comprises a 150 m 492 ft diameter wheel, built over a three-story terminal building which houses shops, bars and restaurants, and offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about 45 km, including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan as well as Johor, Malaysia.

 “We have just got the approval in principle for 5 mega tourism projects. After inviting the global bids, we are in the process of finalizing them. Once, bids for these 5 projects are finalized and works begin we will immediately get onto the remaining 6 projects. The proposed Vizag Eye would be the jewel among the attractions. It would be breathtaking experience to see Vizag city from such a height. We are hopeful the works move fast,” Srinivas told this correspondent.

Another major attraction would be fourth generation aqua Marine Park with 180degree view, for which a suitable location is identified at Endada.

The other attractions of the remaining six projects include a sea cruise terminal, dedicated tourism train to Araku, rope way at Meghadrigedda and another theme park at a cost of Rs 950 cr. All the works would be taken up under PPP mode.