India’s oldest warship may be sold for scrap - With March 6 being fixed as th- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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With March 6 being fixed as the final retirement date for the 58-year-old aircraft carrier INS Viraat, the proposal to convert it into a museum is yet to take any shape.

In This Pic : INS Viraat

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Ministry of defence (MoD) sources said it may be forced to scrap the 27,800-tonne carrier, which saw operational service in the Royal British Navy for 27 years before being inducted by the Indian Navy in 1987, because of the imbroglio with the Andhra Pradesh government over who will foot the bill.

In This Pic : INS Viraat

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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“It will cost almost Rs 1,000 crore to convert the 13storey-high INS Viraat into the proposed aircraft-carrier museum, with a proper final resting place or berthing, backed by a self-sus taining revenue model. The Andhra government is willing to take the carrier but is demanding the MoD foot half the cost,” said a source.

In This Pic : INS Viraat

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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The MoD, in turn, says it can provide technical help and advice, but not major funding for the project. The carrier will now be decommissioned in Mumbai.

In This Pic : INS Viraat

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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The farewell for the “grand old lady“, which will witness the tricolour, naval ensign and commissioning pennant being hauled down for the last time at sunset, will be attended by Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and other Indian officers associated with the carrier as well as around 20 British naval veterans. “First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones is also likely to come for the ceremony,” said an officer.

In This Pic : INS Viraat

Pic Courtesy : BCCL