Vikrant fully dry-docked, ready for conversion
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

January 15: Ninety days and Rs 5 crore has seen India's glorious aircraft carrier, the Vikrant, becoming almost as good as new. The decommissioned warship was today brought out of the dry docks with a fully revamed and refurbished hull and a brand new coat of grey paint.

``The Navy has completed its job. It is now up to the Maharashtra government to go ahead with phase two of converting the warship into a maritime museum,'' says a senior naval officer.

Last year, the feasiblity report prepared by Tata Consultancy Engineering (TCE), had suggested that the warship be grouted near Oyster Rock in South Mumbai, following the necessary repairs at the dry dock.

As promised, the state government will now float global tenders, as only a highly specialised group or agency can carry out the critical work of cementing the 705-feet-long ship's hull in the sea. The total cost of converting the ship into a maritime museum is pegged at Rs 100 crore.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.