Chandrababu kicks off F1H2O international boat racing event

AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu launched the international boat racing event  F1H2O at Punnami Ghat on the banks of Krishna river here in Vijayawada. He announced that the world-famous boat race would be held every year. Chandrababu kicks off the fifth round of Grand Prix F1H2O amidst fanfare and grandeur. Actual race will start today and conclude on tomorrow but participating teams started the trial round of race. This is first time the race being conducted at the banks of Krishna river and it is the 35th series of F1H2O world championship.

After inaugurating the boat race, the chief minister along with his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, minister Lokesh, his wife Brahmani and son Devansh boarded a boat and went around waving the national flag to the audience present on the other side of the Punnami Ghat.

A sizable number of people also gathered on the Prakasam Barrage to watch the spectacle. The traffic on the Prakasam Barrage was suspended for a few hours which would recur also the second and third day of the boat race competitions.

The audience was allowed to witness the boat race inauguration ceremony from the other side of the Punnami Ghat. Due to the faux pas by the Information and Public Relations department, many journalists were not allowed to get inside. However, the higher officials intervened and set things right.

Later, the Chief Minister also inaugurated an industrial meet which is scheduled to be conducted for the next two days to provide a platform to investors on various investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh since the state has ample of opportunities and tourism is one of the key sectors. 

The Chief Minister said that it is our motto to attract global tourists and with the World Championship boat race we have created the space for global tourists. “It is an honour for the State as the world would be watching us through F1H2O,” he added.

Delivering the welcome address Principal Secretary of Tourism department Mukesh Kumar Meena said that it's a great opportunity to build the brand name of Amaravati at global standards.

Himanshu Shukla, CEO of AP Tourism Authority, proposing a vote of thanks thanked Chief Minister for his encouragement and support to the dream to host this international World Championship F1H2O. He said that in fact it is a dream coming true that we are successfully hosting F1H2O here.

Minister for IT Nara Lokesh, Deputy Chief Minister Chinarajappa, Minister for Tourism Bhuma Akhila Priya, Minister for Water Resources Umamaheshwar Rao, Ministry for Civil Supply P Pullarao, Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad, were also present during the inaugural ceremony.