TN seeks Navy's Help to dock Vagli on Mamallapuram heritage site

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

Will Indian Navy help Tamil Nadu government in transferring Vagli, the
decommissioned submarine of Indian Navy, to the 30 acres of land
abutting the beach near the UNESCO declared World Heritage site in
Mahabalipuram?



With Tamil Nadu Tourism Development struggling to get the submarine on
to the beach site for setting the maritime heritage museum, TTDC
sources said that the state is mulling on seeking help from the Indian
Navy.



TTDC said that the biggest issue is whether to break the submarine and
assemble it on the site or go for other alternative.



A Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation source said that the
proposal to break the 1400 tonne submarine and carry it either through
land and sea and assemble it on the site has not gone too well with
Indian Navy who have stated that it won’t be a feasible idea.



The proposal to break the submarine was initially taken and a study
was done Bharat Heavy Electricals in this regard. It was found out
that since the height of the submarine was too much to be shipped
through the road.



“Even if is being shipped through the sea, the challenge would be how
to get it to the shore,” the TTDC source said. There was also an idea
to break it into three peices vertically and ship it through barge.
But Indian Navy has objected to breaking the vessel.



“Indian Navy feels it will be difficult to restore it back in shape to
be used as museum. We are still deliberating on it,” the TTDC source
said.



“We are now planning to seek Indian Navy’s help to transfer the
submarine to Mahabalipuram, the TTDC source said.



“Since this is a policy decision, the chief secretary has to take a
call on this regard,” the TTDC source said