New Delhi: Delhi residents will soon have the chance to experience hot-air balloon rides as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) launched a trial run at Baansera on Tuesday.
The facility will open to the public from Saturday, with tickets priced at Rs 3,000 per person, excluding taxes, Lt Governor V.K. Saxena told reporters.
“Earlier, I had promised the people of Delhi that we will keep introducing new recreational activities. Many parks and recreational spaces have been developed recently, and now the hot-air balloon facility adds to these offerings. The trial run was launched today,” Saxena said.
In July, the DDA finalised a private agency to operate hot-air balloon rides at four locations – the Yamuna Sports Complex, the Commonwealth Games sports complex, and two other sites along the Yamuna Bank at Asita and Baansera near Sarai Kale Khan.
“Tethered flights will be available for four hours daily, with the option to extend depending on requirements. The peak ballooning season in North India, from November to February, provides ideal weather conditions, and public rides will open soon,” the DDA said in a statement.
Rides will last between seven and 12 minutes, with each balloon accommodating up to four passengers, officials added.
“I tested the ride and am happy and satisfied. From a safety perspective, four ropes are tied to the balloon, each capable of handling seven tonnes. Today we reached a height of 120 feet from the ground,” Saxena added.
Once fully operational at the other three locations, the rides will provide residents and visitors a unique aerial view of Delhi’s natural landscape, riverfront, and cityscape, enhancing the city’s tourism potential.
With PTI inputs