History you could touch amp; feel

April 8: Picture this, says the navy. Visitors could stroll down a jetty leading to the Vikrant near the Gateway of India. After paying a sm...

April 8: Picture this, says the navy. Visitors could stroll down a jetty leading to the Vikrant near the Gateway of India. After paying a small entrance fee, they walk on conducted tours around this floating city.

Surveying the massive engines which once powered this leviathan, visitors could walk through the bridge and aircrew briefing room where pilots received final instructions before scrambling to fly missions into enemy territory. They could amble through its cavernous aircraft hangars to view exhibits on India8217;s maritime history and stop for a snack in the quarterdeck, before walking onto the flight deck to see warbirds like Alize bombers and Seahawk fighters.

Visitors with deeper pockets could take off the flight deck in a helicopter for a spin around the city. In the evening, viewers can see a sound and light show showcasing Vikrant8217;s aircraft spitting fire on the enemy or missile boats torching Karachi harbour.

But all this isn8217;t set to happen in a real hurry. The Rs 70 crore proposal toground the ship off Colaba and convert the historic aircraft carrier into a maritime museum, has run aground on bureaucracy.

Though funds are not a problem, the site selected belongs to the port trust which has cited reasons ranging from traffic congestion to the impact on the port, for not parting with the site.

In its decommissioned carrier, the navy sees massive potential for history and tourism. 8220;The Vikrant itself is a museum,8221; a senior naval officer says. The response to this historic ship can be gauged just by the massive crowds of over 50,000 people which throng on its decks on navy day.

Now children from Mumbai8217;s schools and colleges could stay for a few days on board this ship and familiarise themselves with maritime traditions even as corporations discuss strategy in conference halls on the ship.

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The Vikrant museum could make India only the second country in the world to have preserved an aircraft carrier, one of the reasons why the state government decided to back the proposal. A helipad and water transport terminal only enhanced its appeal.

Seven years ago, the US Navy converted its historic aircraft carrierUSS Lexington into a museum at Corpus Christi, Texas. This renovated carrier which saw action in virtually every World War II battle in the Pacific, now attracts droves of tourists and nets in 62 million a year in revenue. Through educational programmes conducted on board, history, maths and science lessons are imparted to young students.

Meanwhile, as the Vikrant proposal remains stuck, efforts are underway in the US to convert the USA8217;s first supercarrier, the Forrestal, into a maritime museum in Baltimore by next year.