The Andhra Pradesh government's plan to convert the decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat into a luxury hotel and aircraft museum failed to take off as the proposal was shot down by the Centre.
AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had, with the intention of preserving the longest serving aircraft carrier, also known as the `Grand Old Lady', proposed the plan to convert it into offshore luxury hotel. He had also hoped that this would further tourism prospects of the state. The government wanted the Centre to equally share the cost of the project, estimated at around Rs. 1,000 crore.
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the proposal to convert the decommissioned carrier into a commercial venture was forwarded by the Andhra Pradesh government on October 26, 2016.
He said the Andhra Pradesh government had requested 50 per cent equity participation by the Ministry of Defence in the venture. “The proposal for equity participation was not accepted by the Ministry of Defence and the same has been communicated to government of Andhra Pradesh on December 14 2016,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fate of INS Viraat remains unclear although Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on a TV channel that one of the proposals is to sink it and convert the ship into a tourist attraction for divers.
