मुंबई, दि. 10 : गोवा मुक्ती लढा तसेच सन 1971 च्या युद्धात गौरवपूर्ण कामगिरी करणाऱ्या आयएनएस विक्रांत या भारतीय नौदलाच्या विमानवाहू युद्धनौकेच्या प्रतिकृतीचे शुक्रवारी श्यामाप्रसाद मुखर्जी चौक, कुलाबा मुंबई येथे राज्यपाल भगत सिंह कोश्यारी यांच्या हस्ते लोकार्पण करण्यात आले.
यावेळी नौदलाच्या पश्चिम कमानचे मुख्य ध्वजाधिकारी व्हाईस ऍडमिरल अजेंद्र बहादूर सिंह, मुंबईचे पोलीस आयुक्त संजय पांडे व नौदलाचे अधिकारी व सेवानिवृत्त अधिकारी उपस्थित होते.
विमानवाहू युद्धनौका आयएनएस विक्रांतला दिनांक ३ नोव्हेंबर १९६१ रोजी भारतीय नौदलात समाविष्ट करण्यात आले. छत्तीस वर्षे सर्वोत्तम सेवा दिल्यानंतर विक्रांत युद्धनौकेला जानेवारी १९९७ मध्ये निवृत्त करण्यात आले व त्यानंतर सन २०१२ पर्यंत ते तरंगते संग्रहालय म्हणून सेवेत होते.
नौदलाने दिलेल्या माहितीनुसार आयएनएस विक्रांत विमानवाहू युद्धनौका म्हणून नव्या रूपाने कोचीन शिपयार्ड येथे पुनश्च तयार होत आहे. लवकरच ही युद्धनौका आयएनएस विक्रांत याच नावाने नौदलात समाविष्ट केली जाणार असल्याचे यावेळी सांगण्यात आले.
Governor Koshyari dedicates replica of aircraft carrier Vikrant in Mumbai
Mumbai : Friday, 10 Jun 22 : A model of the Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was dedicated to the city of Mumbai by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Friday (10 June) at Colaba in Mumbai. Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Police Sanjay Pandey and other guests were present.
The 10 mtr long model of the erstwhile _Vikrant_ has been made in-house by Naval Dockyard, Mumbai and has been located at Regal Circle, Colaba in association with the Residents Association ‘ _My Dream Colaba_’ and ‘ _CALM’_, supported by Adv Makarand Narvekar. The dedication of the model is an affirmation of the strong maritime connect of Mumbai and equally rich maritime heritage of the State of Maharashtra. The model stands proud at the famous Regal Circle, Colaba shoulder to shoulder with the iconic Gateway of India and Naval Dockyard, signifying the ship’s strong bond with the city of Mumbai where she was based during her entire commissioned service.
An aircraft carrier of the Majestic Class, INS Vikrant was launched in September 1945 and formally inducted into the Indian Navy on 03 November 1961 at Mumbai. The ship participated in numerous campaigns and exercises, notable among them being the operations for Liberation of Goa in December 1961 and the Indo-Pak War in 1971. Post serving the nation for 36 years, the ship was decommissioned in January 1997 and remained as a floating museum ship at Mumbai till 2012.
“Old ships never die, they fade away to be resurrected in another avatar”. In keeping with this age old saying, ‘Vikrant’ is set to be reborn as the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, designed by the Indian Navy and being built by M/s Cochin ShipYard Ltd. The ship is presently undergoing sea trials and will soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vikrant.