AP proposes to develop INS Viraat as tourism centre

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that Aircraft carrier INS Viraat, will be developed as a tourism centre after its decommissioning following decades of service in the Navy. He said the Indian Navy is going to decommission INS Viraat very soon and there is a proposal by the defence ministry to develop it as a tourist centre. AIR Correspondent reports, Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Defence Ministry for allotment after decommissioning, the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, during the International Fleet Review. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that he has plans to transform the warship into a major tourist attraction to be placed at Visakhapatnam. Mr. Naidu said, only the process of allocation is pending. He informed that a joint venture would be set up by the Andhra Pradesh government the Indian Navy and a private organisation to take up the tourism-related activities such as yachting, sea sports, sailing, gliding and cruising would be promoted. With nearly 1,500 rooms, a conference hall with a capacity to seat 500 people and a helipad are available in the aircraft carrier, the State government has plans to establish a restaurant too. Hoping that the warship-turned-tourist centre will get good response from the public the AP CM has another proposal to convert the ship into a museum on the beaches of the port city, adding that Visakhapatnam is one of the best places to host maritime activities and the Navy has agreed to support government's proposals in this regard.