Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy created history by heli-hopping to the state Secretariat on Sunday.
A helipad, constructed at a two-acre site on the Secretariat premises at a cost of Rs 1 crore, became operational formally when the chief minister's helicopter on its way from Shamshabad landed just before noon.
Though it was a Sunday, the chief minister decided to go to his office at the sprawling Secretariat complex. After spending some time, he left for his official residence by road.
The helipad was originally planned during the earlier Telugu Desam Party rule, but the proposal was abandoned following opposition outcry.
The then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wanted to heli-hop from his residence at Jubilee Hills to the Secretariat complex, just six km away.
A helipad was developed at Dr Marri Chenna Reddy Institute near his residence.
Dr Reddy, however, got a helipad developed at the Secretariat for a different purpose. He cannot use the helicopter to go to the Secretariat from his official residence in Begumpet because such a facility cannot be provided due to lack of space.
If Dr Reddy wants to take a helicopter ride to Secretariat, he would have to go to Begumpet airport by car. With Secretariat and Begumpet airport being equidistant from the house, it makes no sense to heli-hop to work.
The chief minister got the helipad developed at Secretariat with all the attendant facilities such as wind direction indicators, rooms for supporting staff and illumination so that he can use the facility to rush to places such as scene of accidents, violent incidents and natural disasters.
This is expected not only to help him fly without any security problem, but also reduce traffic problems for him and the people.
It is possible for the chief minister to fly to any place in the state within 90 minutes, but it takes no less than 30 to 45 minutes for his convoy to reach the airport from the Secretariat during peak hours.
The stoppage of traffic for the CM's convoy adds to the woes of the road users quite often.
