Decks cleared to convert INS Vikrant into museum

Finally decks for maritime museum on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which played an important role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, have been cleared as the state government and the Centre have agreed on the cost-sharing formula for the project.

After the Vikrant was decommissioned in 1997, the Navy for emotional reasons didn't want the carrier to be sent to the scrap yard and was looking for for suitable partner to look after its maintenance.

But as it couldn't find a partner till 2001, the Navy decided to send the ship to the scrap yard. But due to public uproar, the state government decided to step in and convert it into a maritime museum.

However, the state government wanted the Centre to bear the lion's share of the burden as it involves heavy expenditure to create necessary infrastructure like jetty and approach road. Against this background, the Centre agreed to pay Rs 40 crore of the estimated Rs 70 crore required for restoration of the aircraft carrier.

Secretary, special projects, Sanjiv Ubale told to Business Standard that state government would construct a jetty and lay approach road at Oyster Rock in Colaba area, where the carrier would be stationed.

It will take around two years to create basic infrastructure and develop a museum on the boat.

The Navy has taken up the responsibility to conceptualise and develop the museum.

Ubale said a special trust would be set up to look after the museum.

He further said a commercial helipad would be developed on the carrier, which could be used by various corporates having headquarters in south Mumbai.

This would not only meet the long-pending demand of corporates for a helipad in south Mumbai but also help generate revenues for maintenance of the museum.