Question : INS Viraat

(a) whether the world’s longest serving warship INS Viraat was decommissioned by the Government recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it had played a major role in Operation Jupiter and Operation Parakram and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to keep it as a museum / pride of heritage and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has sent a proposal to the Union Government to convert INS Viraat into an entertainment hub / luxury hotel at Visakhapatnam through joint venture and if so, the details thereof and response of the Government thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) & (b): INS Viraat has been decommissioned on 6.3.2017.

(c) INS Viraat was deployed for ‘Operation Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Indian Peace Keeping Operation in Sri Lanka. INS Viraat was also deployed in the Arabian Sea during ‘Operation Parakram’.

(d) & (e): A proposal for conversion of INS Viraat as an Aircraft Museum including tourist and hospitality components on commercial basis was forwarded by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to Ministry of Defence on 26th October 2016. Andhra Pradesh Government has requested 50% equity participation by Ministry of Defence in their proposed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the purpose. 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 14.12.2016.
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