AP government now needs Central help to go ahead with INS Viraat project

The grounding of the ambitious project of the Andhra Pradesh government to convert it into a floating hotel-cum-museum on the Vizag coast is becoming uncertain.
File picture of INS Viraat( EPS)
File picture of INS Viraat( EPS)

VISAKHAPATANAM: As the decommissioning of the Indian aircraft carrier INS Viraat is coming nearer, the grounding of the ambitious project of the Andhra Pradesh government to convert it into a floating hotel-cum-museum on the Vizag coast is becoming uncertain.

What started as a speculation that the project will never see the light with no words from the state authorities over the progress of the project even as the INS Viraat is all set to be decommissioned on March 6 at Mumbai dock, now appears to come true, with the Tourism Principal Secretary N Srikanth saying that the project is a very expensive one, the government is seeking partnership with the Centre to proceed further.

"The decisions need to be taken by the State and Union governments. There are two major challenges involved- a selection of a suitable site for berthing and conversion of the ship into hotel-cum-museum. Further, it will need maintenance costs on a regular basis," Srikanth said during a private programme in Vizag on Friday. Sources from tourism department said that it would cost over Rs 1,000 crores to convert the INS Viraat into the proposed floating museum.

Initially, the Indian Navy as well as the government were confident over berthing of INS Viraat on the Vizag coast.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the Tourism Department was in thoughts to berth INS Viraat as a floating hotel-cum-museum. The officials also decided to take up works like land identification and others.

"The fishing harbour and Vizag Port at present do not have space. Moreover, the east coast is prone to cyclones. There is a need to create a separate jetty for berthing of INS Viraat," Srikanth said.

Being an expensive project, the government has sought support of the Centre. There were also talks with private partnership and two hotel majors-one from Mumbai and one from Visakhapatnam-for executing the projects. However, the Vizag-based hotel has dropped its plans due to the huge expenditure, while the Mumbai-based hotel has formed an unofficial consortium and is waiting for the government's nod.

Further, the Naval sources said that the transportation of INS Viraat from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam and its berthing would take at least four months.

"We are not sure whether the government wants it to be berthed or place it on the land. In either case, we need to make necessary arrangements. For berthing such a huge ship, Vizag Port does not have berth and it need to vacate at least two regular berths for the purpose," said a senior naval officer on condition of anonymity.

In the case of placing it on land like Kursura submarine museum, the government needs to invite international companies as India does not have necessary cranes and other equipment, he said.

The Naval authorities are also not inclined to maintain the to-be-decommissioned ship as it would occupy a large berth. The Navy officials also fear that in the absence of a concrete proposal from the AP government, the INS Viraat might be scrapped just like its predecessor INS Vikrant which was maintained and supported by the Navy at Mumbai Port for 17 years before sending it to scrap yard in 2014 as the proposals floated by different government authorities and also the private companies did not fructify.
When asked about the speculations that INS Viraat to be sold for scrap just like INS Vikrant, Srikanth said that the decision completely depends on the officials of the union government.

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