Mumbai : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Wednesday that the defence ministry had decided to sell INS Viraat, the flagship aircraft carrier proposed to be decommissioned in 2016, at a price of Re 1 to any coastal state of India which will promise to convert the warship into a museum ship and preserve it as a part of national heritage.
According to sources, Maharashtra will not be qualified to buy INS Viraat as it had earlier miserably failed to protect INS Vikrant, India’s first majestic class aircraft carrier which played a key role in the Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971. In the late 90s, the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled state government had promised the defence ministry to adopt INS Vikrant and develop it into a museum ship. However, a 17-year-long battle on various fronts including the Parliament and the Supreme Court failed to protect the ship. Finally, it was scrapped.
Parrikar, who was in the city for the commission of INS Kochi, said: “INS Viraat will not be scrapped like INS Vikrant. We will sell it to any state at just Re 1. It is a beautiful ship and needs some restoration which may cost Rs 400cr, and it would be an incredible museum ship.”
INS Viraat, launched on February 16, 1953, had service life of almost six decades including her service with the British Navy as HMS Hermes and INS Viraat with Indian Navy. According to sources, Goa is likely to be a prominent contender in the race to buy the aircraft carrier.
Vishnudas Sheshrao