Only dignified activities allowed on INS Viraat: Vice Admiral Luthra
Only "dignified activities" will be permitted on board the Indian Navy's decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said today. Since its decommissioning, several states have expressed interest to convert the ship into a tourism hub or a museum. The carrier served the Indian Navy from 1987 until it was formally decommissioned in March 2017.
The carrier that served for 56yrs under Indian, British flags
The Centaur-Class aircraft carrier was built and deployed by the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in 1959. It operated for 56 years under British and Indian flags, earning itself a Guinness World Records mention for being the oldest serving warship.
Navy received several proposals to convert Viraat into tourism destination
"Proposals have been received from several states, including Maharashtra, to convert INS Viraat into some tourism destination. We will be permitting only dignified activities there," Vice Admiral Luthra said in Mumbai. He also said the proposal from Maharashtra had been forwarded to the Defense Ministry. The vice admiral said the ship, in its future avatar, could be a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
Maharashtra government's proposal 'is being examined actively at highest level'
"Whether it'll be a museum or tourism destination will depend on the PPP," Luthra said. About the Maharashtra government's proposal, he said, "It is being examined actively at the highest level." On the maintenance cost of the decommissioned aircraft carrier, Luthra said about 225 people have been deployed to take care of the ship, but the Navy didn't "do any costing" of it.
INS Viraat has covered the globe 27 times
INS Viraat, out of service since 23 July 2016, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987, and operated Sea Harrier fighter aircraft, Sea King 42B anti-submarine helicopters, Sea King 42C commando carrier helicopters and Chetaks as its main air elements. The aircraft carrier is reputed for having been out at sea for over six years, covering the globe 27 times.
