INS Viraat to become a floating museum; estimated cost Rs 852 crore

The `Viraat` complex would include other facilities such as adventures, sailing, skydiving and marine training for merchant sailors. The main museum would be a major attraction for tourists who flock to Sindhudurg, ranked among the cleanest districts in the country. Image source: IANS

The Viraat museum will feature facilities related to the marine world, audio-visual programmes, a virtual hall displaying marine history and other attractions. Fadnavis said a committee headed by the Chief Secretary will work out the modalities of the PPP contract and other details for the project. Image source: IANS

Commissioned in 1959 as the Britain`s Royal Navy`s HMS Hermes, it was bought by India and then commissioned into the Navy as `INS Viraat` in 1987. The 226.50 metres long, 28,700 tonnes (fully loaded) aircraft carrier served the Navy for almost three decades before being de-commissioned last year. Image source: IANS

India`s maiden aircraft carrier, the `INS Vikrant` which was decommissioned in January 1997, served as a museum ship in south Mumbai till 2012. Later, after all efforts to save and preserve it failed, mainly due to resources crunch, it was finally auctioned and sold as scrap in 2014. Image source: IANS