Only in June 2017, India's ex-defense minister and then Chief Minister of Goa,

Manohar Parrikar, fully backed a proposal to convert the recently decommissioned

naval aircraft carrier INS Viraat, into an international maritime centre for higher learning
(imparting maritime skills to Indian and international students) along with a world class
naval museum.
After all, this was being proposed by the first Indian who captained the former
British navy vessel's (HMS Hermes), after its commissioning into the Indian Navy.
Further, it was also backed by the Indian Navy, whose chief (Flag Officer Commander in
Chief) FOC-in-C (West), Vice Admiral Girish Luthra had affirmed a willingness to
provide two serving officers and 30 sailors for a three year period for the project (all of
whom had also served regularly on board INS Viraat during its commissioned tenure for
the Indian Navy).
Admiral Pasricha also holds the distinction of having set up the Submarine
Museum in Vizag that won him an award from the World Ship Trust, London that listed
the museum as one of the best in the world.
Now in October, 2017, Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, IN (Retd) is losing hope,
not unlike what retired defense personnel experienced during their demand for parity
and dignity post retirement through a non-discriminatory computation based on the
principle of 'One Rank One Pay' or OROP.
There has been no further progress over the communication channels
between the Goa CM's office and the Union government (read Ministry of Defense).
Vice Admiral Pasricha has been unable to elicit any response on the status of the
project, for which Parrikar had even offered to immediately sanction Rs 500 crore (in
June). Now the ex-captain (Indian Commander) of the naval strike vessel has
desperately reached out to Parikkar on the isue (a copy of the letter dated October 3,
2017, is available with The Hindu).
Meanwhile, with her newly assigned clout as Union Defense Minister, Nirmala
Sitaraman is believed to be disposed towards a proposal to set up a hotel-cum-
museum complex instead, on board the INS Viraat.
Not to be left behind, Maharashtra's tourism minister, Jaykumar Rawal,
announced his intention to pitch for the decommissioned aircraft carrier (that lies
berthed off the Mumbai coastline) to be used as a maritime museum and docked off the
coastal belt of Vasai-Virar in the northern suburbs of Mumbai city.
Yet another proposal from Maharashtra seeks to sink the vessel off the
western coast (over 20 nautical miles into the sea) or on the Konkan coastal belt to
serve the urge for underwater diving explorations. Rawal told The Hindu that Andhra
Pradesh and Goa were also pitching for exploitation rights for INS Viraat, while exuding
confidence about his proposal for the vessel to be docked off the Virar-Vasai coastline.
Vice Admiral Pasricha's missive to Parrikar (known as a man of high integrity
and good intent) on October 3, 2017, seeks to rescue the vessel that has been
kidnapped by political exuberance that may tilt towards the proposal from the south
(Andhra Pradesh) squandering the chance to set up a world class skilling center .
His letter states, "Dear Chief Minister, It was nice of you to have met us in
early June.. During this meeting, it was obvious you were indeed keen about our
proposal to have Viraat at Mormugao Harbour, as a Maritime Centre-cum-Museum.
However, despite this eagerness and three subsequent calls to your office over the last
three months, I find that there has not been much progress on ground and there are no
indications at all about the final decision of the Goa Government!" Vice Admiral
Pasricha's missive states.
"This issue was also discussed with Vice Admiral Girish Luthra (FOCinC
Western Naval Command), who said the final decision, on what should finally happen to
Viraat, now rests with Naval Headquarters and the MoD (Ministry of Defense). He also
indicated that besides Goa, Andhra and Maharashtra also have plans to take Viraat
over. Andhra (Pradesh) is planning to convert Viraat into a major 5 star hotel, with a
small museum attached and have asked Cochin Shipyard Ltd, to give an estimate for
this change-over. The cost for the project would be over Rs 1000 Crores.
Then, Maharashtra wants to berth her off Vasai as a tourist attraction. They
also have an alternative plan to sink the carrier about 80 miles off the West Coast
and convert her into an underwater relic for diving enthusiasts," the letter adds.
Further it notes, "You may recollect our proposal had an initial expense of
(only) Rs 50 crore, while the AP project would require an infusion of Rs 1000 crore).
This included towing the ship to Goa from Mumbai and getting her ready for Phase I in
just under one year. Phases II and III could then be implemented from funds generated
in Phase I. This also envisages that in three years she would become self generating
and be able of recover all expenditure incurred. We strongly believe that thereafter she
would become a definite money earner."
The ex-Viraat servicemen have planned to partner with the Goa University to
co-ordinate and conduct advanced Maritime Research and PhD courses and seminars
and for NIO to help in running programs on underwater ocean research. "Separately, I
am in touch with the California State University & Maritime Academy, the Australia
Underwater Centre at Tasmania and the Singapore University, for courses and
seminars relating to the maritime domain and eventual utilization of the large areas of
the Indian Ocean. India has 1200 islands spread around us and an EEZ and maritime
area, which is even more that our land area. Thus there will soon be need to teach our
scientists and students how to exploit these to our advantage," the vessel's
Commissioning Commanding Officer says.
While Parrikars current clout with the MoD may not match his abilities while at
the helm of Indias Defense ministry, his intent on the subject needs some clarity
according to another official, who requested anonymity.
Captain Jagdish Khokhar had served a fighter pilot on the INS Vikrant as well
as on INS Viraat. Says he, I remember the efforts to save the INS Vikrant went awry
after a lot of initial supporting voices from the public and even the political quarters. I
earnestly hope the INS Viraat does not go the same way.
The Andhra Pradesh project would be a challenging task (apart from the Rs
1000 crore demand made by the state government) says Captain Khokhar and adds,
The east coast vagaries of weather would make the vessels stay quite a turbulent
affair. And turning a naval vessel into a hotel, albeit a 7 star facility, would not exactly
warm the cockles of naval personnel in the country. There is a naval backed proposed
by Admiral Pasricha. At the ground level, it will generate qualified and trained marine
specialists, unlike the large number of un-skilled personnel being churned out by ill
equipped marine training schools that have mushroomed in the Goa belt.
 He added that the project site identified (off the Goa coastline) falls within
public boundaries and hence not security quarantine would be additionally required to
be created for the International Maritime training centre.
I only hope, whatever