Close on the heels of Dakshina Kannada district administration expressing its desire to house the aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Mangaluru, and convert it to a museum, the Coastal Development Authority has come forward to bear part of the expenses towards creation of infrastructure.
In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently, authority chairperson Nivedit Alva said the aircraft carrier, after its decommissioning next year, could be berthed either in Mangaluru or Karwar, the two prominent coastal cities in Karnataka. Housing INS Viraat on the Karnataka coast would enhance the prestige of the State, he said, and urged the government to take all possible steps to ensure that the aircraft carrier is berthed on the Karnataka coast.
The authority, Mr. Alva said, commits to set apart Rs. 3.5 crore from the budgetary grants it would receive from the government for 2016-17 financial year. He went on to list the attractions that Mangaluru and Karwar have, apart from facilities, and berting INS Viraat at either spots would add to the tourism potential. Additionally, Karwar houses the Sea Bird Naval Base. If Viraat is berthed in Karwar, it would be easier for the maintenance of the decommissioned vessel, he wrote in the letter.
