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INS Viraat to be converted into a museum; Gets approval from Maharashtra Cabinet

The proposal for the ₹852-crore project has been cleared by the Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday. The museum is being created in INS Viraat to encourage the young generation to learn about the Indian Navy’s glorious history

INS Viraat to be converted into a museum; Gets approval from Maharashtra Cabinet
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Soon, the decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat will be transformed into a museum that will be set in Sindhudurg district. On Thursday, the Maharashtra Cabinet cleared a proposal that will be approving the public-private partnership basis. Currently, the aircraft carrier is docked at the Naval Dockyard since it was decommissioned in March 2017. 

An official from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office stated that the museum project is being initiated to make the young generation aware of the glorious past that the Indian Navy possesses. According to a proposal to the Defence Ministry, the INS Viraat museum will be constructed by laying a concrete foundation in the Arabian Sea at Nivati Rocks, which is seven nautical miles away from the Sindhudurg seashore.

A committee headed by Maharashtra chief secretary DK Jain has been set up to conclude the terms and conditions for tenders to opt for the private partner. The project is estimated to cost ₹852 crore.

Initially, the ship served the British Navy for over 30 years before India bought the aircraft carrier. However, it was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 after undergoing extensive refits. The carrier spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and was instrumental during ‘Operation Parakram’ during the war between India and Pakistan along with its services during the Sri Lankan Peace Keeping operation.

Along with the museum, the government has also planned to develop adventure sports such as sailing, skydiving, etc. to boost the tourism around the monument.

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