ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Majestic Vikrant falls to pieces as bureaucracy dithers over its future

The much-talked about project to set up a maritime museum and helipad on Indian Navy's decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant may not take off, as the Maharashtra government has not given the go-ahead for it as yet. Tired of waiting, the navy has now decided to sell the ship by July 31 if the state government continues to defer taking a decision.

''The ship is continuously rusting, and can sink any time,'' Rear-Admiral B K Roy, said, pointing out that the negotiations with various authorities since its decommissioning on January 31, 1997, have virtually failed.

On May 14, the navy communicated its decision to Maharashtra Urban Development Secretary S Nalinakshan and fixed a deadline of July 31 to take a final decision on the project.

Though Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has agreed in principle to execute the Rs 760 million project, in association with the Indian Navy and private participation, the Bombay Port Trust is reportedly objecting to the project. For one, the BPT has not agreed to the location of the maritime museum: near Radio Club in South Bombay.

Normally the navy auctions most of its ships after they are decommissioned, but it decided to do differently by Vikrant, as it is of ''historic and heritage importance''.

While the sale of Vikrant as scrap will fetch the government a mere Rs 180 million, if it sinks it will take more than Rs 1 billion to clear the berth place, say experts. In fact, the central government has talked of writing off the Rs 180 million if the museum takes off.

The ship was commissioned in the United Kingdom in 1961 and has served the Indian Navy for 36 years before being decommissioned in 1997. The ship was a star asset in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

While the museum is proposed to be constructed at the hangar of the decommissioned aircraft carrier, other places like big halls with a capacity of more than 100 people could be used as conference halls. She can also have a restaurant at the quarter deck, Rear Admiral Roy said.

However, the navy has completely ruled out overnight stay on the ship. ''We object to the casino culture,'' the admiral said, adding that they may also not allow marriage parties in it. The main aim is to create awareness and it will be linked to education.

Though the Maharashtra government intends to bear some cost of the project, it expects that the company, which will be ready to run the helipad, will bear most of the cost. Rear Admiral Roy said for some time now, the need for a helipad has been felt in south Bombay. Many parties should be interested in running the helipad, as a strip measuring 704 ft x 128 ft (the physical dimensions of Vikrant) would literally cost the earth in south Bombay.

Moreover, the cost involved in constructing the state-of-the-art air-traffic control tower will be less as the navy has the necessary infrastructure to place the instruments.

Rear Admiral Roy said the main exhibition centre may have exhibits from the navy and other defence organisations -- like the army, the air force, the Defence Research and Development Organisation and ordnance factories.

''We have grown up with this ship, and she has an illustrious career of 36 years. But we are very worried about its fate as a glorious history may be sold in scrap," adds an emotional Rear Admiral Roy.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report