In order to boost tourism in the new capital, Andhra government is planning create a underwater tunnel in Amaravati, the newest state capital in the country.
According to TOI, Amaravati will get India's first ever underwater tunnel under the river Krishna. This tunnel will be three-km long and will be used for vehicular traffic.
There are about 200 such tunnels around the world. The designers from Singapore have included the under-river tunnel in the detailed master plan for Amaravati which was released on Saturday.
"The underwater tunnel will be an instant hit with tourists. Even if the project costs a little more, we will go ahead with it. The state will earn considerable revenue from tourists," a senior planner in the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) told TOI.
The tunnel is set to come up near Ibrahimpatnam on the outskirts of Vijayawada. The backwaters of the Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada extend up to Ferry village near Ibrahimpatnam. Since the proposed tunnel is transparent, motorists using it can see aquatic life.
The underwater tunnel project was reportedly included in the detailed master plan following the advice of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The master plan also proposes a "gigantic" giant wheel on the riverbank to give the capital city a "distinct identity". The giant wheel will function round the clock to attract tourists