Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh government still hopes to convert Viraat, India’s oldest warship, into a major tourist attraction. The AP Tourism Authority (APTA) has issued tender notices inviting bids for the appointment of specialist consultants to prepare a techno-economic feasibility report and detailed cost estimates for the refurbishment of Viraat and its conversion into a dedicated tourist attraction. The deadline for submission of bids is July 26.
INS Viraat was formally decommissioned on March 6 after around four decades of service on the high seas.
It is presently docked in the Mumbai harbour. Naval officials say that though the ship is in their custody, all decisions pertaining to disposal, conversion and any other utility of the project can only be taken by the Ministry of Defence.
In her maiden visit to Vizag, Minister for Tourism Bhuma Akhila Priya said that the TD government had been making efforts to get funds from the Union Ministry of Tourism to take-up tourism projects, including the Viraat project, to develop AP as a tourist destination.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his doubts about the Viraat tourism project, saying that it will require crores of rupees. However, the APTA’s latest move indicates that the project is still alive.
As per the bidding documents produced by the APTA, consultants will assist the Tourism Department in the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the Viraat project. The APTA has a number of specifications in mind for the project. The consultant will prepare deck-wise plans to convert the ship into a 4-star hotel with 120 rooms, a convention centre in the aircraft hangar, restaurants, retail and commercial spaces, entertainment zones, gaming arcades and a Viraat Maritime Museum. The consultant is also required to suggest uses for the additional space available on board.
The scope of DPR is to provide detailed cost estimates for the refurbishment of the ship, retro-fitment, and towing of the ship from its current location in Mumbai to the Kakinada Harbour. The consultant will also assess the economic feasibility of the project.
