New Owner of INS Viraat Seeks Rs 100 Crore from Mumbai Firm to Save Warship from Dismantling

Shree Ram Group, the new owner of INS Viraat, demands Rs 100 crore from a Mumbai firm attempting to convert the historic warship into a museum.

Mumbai: The newly-acquired owner of INS Viraat, one of India's most iconic decommissioned warships, has demanded Rs 100 crore from a Mumbai-based company which is attempting to convert the historic vessel into a museum. The company is working diligently to procure the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to prevent the ship from being dismantled, as the deadline to save the warship fast approaches.

The Iconic INS Viraat: From Warship to Scrap

Indian Navy's decommissioned warship aircraft carrier INS Viraat being towed away by boats while ship's final journey to the Alang Ship breaking yard in Gujarat, from the naval dockyard in Mumbai on September 19, 2020.

INS Viraat, a symbol of India’s rich maritime heritage, was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 and served until its decommissioning in 2017. The ship, which holds the distinction of being the world’s longest-serving warship, was purchased by Shree Ram Group for Rs 38.54 crore at an auction in July 2025. Since then, the aircraft carrier, which weighs approximately 27,800 tonnes, has been docked at Alang, a prominent ship-breaking yard in Gujarat.

However, with the ship now at the yard, the fate of INS Viraat hangs in the balance. If the Mumbai firm cannot secure the crucial No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence, the warship will likely be dismantled.

Shree Ram Group Chairman Offers Final Opportunity

Mukesh Patel, Chairman of Shree Ram Group, expressed his willingness to sell the ship to the Mumbai firm out of a sense of patriotism, provided they meet the requirements. Speaking to PTI, Patel explained that he originally demanded Rs 125 crore but had since agreed to reduce the price to Rs 100 crore, acknowledging the firm’s noble cause of preserving the ship as a museum. He emphasized that time is running out, with a final offer for the purchase set to expire next week.

"I bought this warship because of my love for my country, and I’m ready to sell it to those who want to turn it into a museum. But they must first secure the NOC from the Ministry of Defence. Without it, I can’t go ahead with the sale," Patel said.

Limited Time to Save INS Viraat

Patel made it clear that the offer would not last indefinitely. “I can’t wait forever. If the company is unable to secure the NOC within a week, I will begin the dismantling process,” he warned. The clock is ticking, as Shree Ram Group is set to begin breaking down the vessel if no resolution is reached.

Envitech Marine Consultants Expresses Interest

V.K. Sharma, Managing Director of Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt. Ltd., has been in negotiations with Shree Ram Group and is actively working to secure the NOC from the government. Sharma remains optimistic that he will be able to obtain the necessary clearance and convert the iconic warship into a museum.

“We are doing everything possible to obtain the NOC, and we are confident that it will come through soon. I’ve personally met with Mukesh Patel, and we have agreed on a fair price for the ship,” Sharma stated.

In addition to support from Patel, Sharma also claimed to have garnered backing from the Goa state government for this patriotic initiative to preserve a key piece of Indian naval history. Finally, Supreme Court Clears Path for Dismantling of INS Viraat, Rejects Bid to Convert Ship into Museum.

INS Viraat: A Legacy of Naval History

INS Viraat has a distinguished Naval history that stretches beyond its service to India. Originally commissioned as HMS Hermes in the British Royal Navy in 1959, the vessel played a key role in the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982. After being decommissioned by the British in 1984, the ship was refurbished and inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987, where it served for over three decades. Its decommissioning in 2017 marked the end of an era, but its legacy as a symbol of maritime strength remains indelible.

The decommissioning of INS Viraat came just three years after India retired its other aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, which was subsequently dismantled in Mumbai in 2014. If INS Viraat is dismantled in Alang, it will become the second aircraft carrier to be broken down in India.

A Historic Turning Point for India’s Naval Heritage

The controversy surrounding INS Viraat’s potential dismantling underscores a larger debate about the preservation of India’s naval heritage. While the Indian Navy has expressed no formal interest in maintaining the ship, there is a growing call from various quarters to preserve such icons of military history. The fate of INS Viraat may now rest on the ability of interested parties, such as Sharma’s Envitech Marine Consultants, to secure the necessary governmental approvals.

As the deadline looms, the next few days could determine whether this national treasure will be reduced to scrap or preserved for future generations as a testament to India’s naval legacy.