Kolkata: After Visakhapatnam, Kolkata is going to have a naval museum soon. It will also have a scale model of INS Kolkata, the stealth-guided missile destroyer, on public display.
The Navy museum will be built with the giant structures of TU 142M anti-submarine aircraft in line of the one at R.K. Beach in Visakhapatnam, said Naval Officer In Charge (West Bengal) Commodore Suprobho K. De on Friday.
He informed that the Mamata Banerjee government has agreed to help build the museum. Speaking to the media on the eve of the Navy Day celebrations, Commodore De said, “There are six TU 142M anti-submarine aircraft which were decommissioned. Now the Navy wants to preserve them. One is going to be turned into a museum in Visakhapatnam. Another will be turned into the same here to create awareness among the public.”
He elaborated, “The state government in principle has approved the idea. I have taken it up with the naval headquarters also. An approval from the union government is expected to come within this year. One acre of land is required to build the museum.” Sources indicated that the location has been identified around Ecopark in New Town.
If everything goes according to plan, the museum may come up within a year, sources added.
The TU 142M anti submarine aircraft which will be turned into the museum is now stationed at Mazgaon.
It will be deassembled before its parts being brought to the state and then the parts will be reassembled at the location.
