'In-depth Viewership': INS Guldar Set To Become India's First Underwater Museum
The 1,120-tonne vessel measuring 83.9 metres long and 9.7 metres wide, was retired on January 12, 2024, and gifted to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation by Indian Navy
In a groundbreaking move, the decommissioned Indian Navy warship INS Guldar is set to become India's first underwater museum and artificial coral reef, nestled near Nivati Rock in Sindhudurg's Vengurla taluka, Maharashtra.
This ambitious project, aimed at boosting marine conservation and tourism, was launched virtually by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, with deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with key ministers and officials, in attendance. Officials said it's a historic step, blending heritage, ecology, and adventure to create a unique destination.
The INS Guldar, a 1,120-tonne vessel measuring 83.9 metres long and 9.7 metres wide, was retired on January 12, 2024. Gifted to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) by the Indian Navy at no cost, with approvals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh, the ship was transported from Port Blair to Karwar Naval Base at the Navy's expense, saving significant costs for the state.
On February 22, 2024, MTDC took official possession, and by March 16, 2025, the ship was safely towed to Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg. The Maharashtra Maritime Board permitted the vessel to be docked at its Vijaydurg jetty for six to seven months, free of charge.
The project, funded with Rs 46.91 crore by the union tourism ministry on December 27, 2024, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme, involves transforming the INS Guldar into an underwater attraction.
Environmentally cleaned by April 15, 2025, the ship is now ready for scuttling near Nivati Rock, a task assigned to Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited on April 16, 2025. Once submerged, the vessel will foster coral growth, creating a vibrant marine ecosystem. This will pave the way for scuba diving and, in the future, submarine tours, offering tourists a thrilling glimpse of the underwater world.
This initiative, a first for India, draws inspiration from similar projects worldwide. It promises to put Sindhudurg on the global tourism map while promoting marine biodiversity. The MTDC, led by managing director Manoj Kumar Suryavanshi and general manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, is working closely with local authorities, including Sindhudurg's district collector Anil Patil, to ensure its success.
By blending history with eco-tourism, officials say the INS Guldar underwater museum will offer an unforgettable experience, inviting adventurers to explore a sunken warship surrounded by thriving coral reefs.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
15 minutes ago
- India Gazette
62 percent of GIM manufacturing investment commitments converted to project applications: MB Patil
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 6 (ANI): Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, stated on Saturday that Rs 3.4 lakh crore worth of formal project applications have been filed out of the 5.56 lakh crore investment commitments made for the manufacturing sector during the Global Investors Meet (GIM) - Invest Karnataka 2025. This amounts to a 62% conversion rate. Speaking at an exclusive session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the presence of Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, MB Patil attributed this impressive conversion as a result of sustained post-MoU engagement with investors, ensuring that intent translates into tangible action. 'Companies such as Krones, Safran, TASL, and many others have already filed formal applications with the state, with several having already commenced groundwork. Additionally, with both IndiGo and Air India now operating MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facilities in Karnataka, alongside TASL's upcoming MRO unit and HAL's existing operations, Karnataka has truly earned its place as the 'MRO Capital of Asia',' Patil noted. Patil further stated that out of the total Rs 10.27 lakh crore worth of investment commitments received during the GIM, proposals valued at Rs 4.34 lakh crore or about 42 per cent, have already materialised into project applications. He positioned Karnataka as a reliable partner in the evolving global economic landscape. He said, 'As the world adopts the China+1 strategy and responds to uncertainties caused by global conflicts, Karnataka has emerged as a dependable and natural partner. We are building not just industrial parks, but self-contained ecosystems that are future-ready and innovation-driven.' The new State Industrial Policy, launched during the GIM, has been widely appreciated for its progressive and inclusive framework. The policy places a strong emphasis on sustainability by integrating decarbonisation goals, green regulatory frameworks, and dedicated promotion of green industrial practices. It also offers targeted additional incentives for Zone 1 and Zone 2 districts, supporting balanced regional development. (ANI)
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
Water release to Jeedipalli via Handri–Neeva main canal on July 15
Vijayawada: The state government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has made significant strides in ensuring irrigation water for Rayalaseema, with Rs 3,890 crore allocated for the Handri–Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project. During a review on Saturday at camp office, the Chief Minister evaluated major irrigation projects, including Handri–Neeva, Polavaram Left Canal, and north Andhra initiatives, alongside reservoir levels and water management strategies. Starting July 15, 3,850 cusecs of water will be released into the Jeedipalli reservoir under Phase-1 of the Handri–Neeva project, with preparations underway to ensure timely execution. This water will fill the Gollapalli, Marala and Cherlopalli reservoirs and be channeled to the Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir over 15 days. By July 31, water will flow through the Phase-2 canal to the Punganur and Kuppam branch canals, irrigating new areas in Rayalaseema following canal extension and lining works. Naidu emphasized using the full 3,850 cusecs to fill all reservoirs and tanks in the region. The Chief Minister stressed efficient water use, directing departments to implement a coordinated plan focusing on groundwater recharge, involving both the irrigation and panchayat raj departments. Officials reported that reservoirs currently hold 419 tmc ft of water, a 236 tmc ft increase from last year's 182 tmc ft, with normal rainfall in most districts except Kadapa and optimistic forecasts ahead. The Chief Minister prioritised utilising inflows through the Handri–Neeva and Pothireddypadu systems to fill Rayalaseema reservoirs, particularly in the Penna basin, ensuring irrigation for ayacut farmers before storage. He ordered immediate work on the Galeru–Nagari canal to supply water to Kadapa and tenders for Phase-2 of Handri–Neeva to reach southern Chittoor. The Veligonda Project in Prakasam district is targeted for completion by June 2026, with adequate funding assured. Polavaram Left Canal works must be completed by July 31, with all seven packages to Anakapalli finalided. Naidu also pushed for expediting north Andhra projects, including completing the Tarakarama Teertha Project within a year and finalising Thotapalli distributary works and the Vamsadhara–Nagavali linkage project. He called for accurate water auditing, to be conducted by Vassar Labs, accounting for rainfall, river inflows, groundwater, and usage for agriculture, drinking, and industry to ensure efficient resource planning.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Homegrown Goods More Shelf Assured Abroad
Live Events Smartphones may have sizzled their way to become the country's largest exported goods in the last fiscal year, but India-made daily use consumer goods such as biscuits, noodles, packaged gram flour, soaps and shampoos are also rapidly making inroads into global fast-moving consumer goods companies like Hindustan Unilever (HUL), ITC, Marico, Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur and AWL Agri Business (formerly Adani Wilmar) have reported faster growth in their export revenue compared with local sales in the past two fiscal years. While international business accounts for only 3% of the turnover for some like HUL due to their very large domestic operations, it brings more than 20% of the revenue for companies such as Dabur, Emami and Marico. Unilever India Exports Ltd, HUL's wholly owned subsidiary for exports to other Unilever companies globally, posted an 8% increase in sales at Rs 1,258 crore in the last financial year ended March 31, according to HUL's annual report. Its net profit rose 14% to Rs 91 crore. HUL's total sales, meanwhile, grew at a tepid pace of 2%, weighed by weak domestic company attributed the export growth to products in skin care, lifestyle nutrition, hair care and personal wash, driven by brands like Dove, Horlicks, Vaseline, Pears, Bru, Sunsilk, Glow and Lovely, Pond's, Lakme and Lifebuoy. It's not just basmati rice, traditionally a top commodity for exports from India, which is in high demand, said Angshu Mallick, chief executive at AWL Agri Business, India's largest packaged edible oil company. Mustard and sunflower oil, atta, besan (gram flour), soya nuggets and poha (flattened rice) all are seeing strong demand in foreign markets, he said.'We are just scratching the surface. The proliferation of Indian restaurants and popularity of Indian cuisines in the West is driving the exports. And it's not just the Indian diaspora but even the local people (in foreign markets) are buying these,' said Mallick, predicting that exports could rise 50-80% this fiscal demand is strong, a push from the government through export-focussed programmes like production-linked incentive schemes (PLI) for the food processing industry and millet-based products are also helping boost shipments, industry executives said. The government in December said it had selected 73 companies for benefits under the PLI scheme for marketing Indian-branded food products in global said in its latest annual report that its branded export business grew threefold in the past three years to cross ₹250 crore in FY25. Godrej Consumer Products said in an investor presentation that the operating margin of its international business expanded to 17% in FY25 from 10% two years told analysts recently that its export business is scaling up fast and it posted 14% growth in constant currency terms (excluding the impact of currency movements) in FY25, compared with overall growth of 12%. At Dabur, exports grew 17% against a 1.3% expansion in consolidated revenue. ITC Ltd said in its latest annual report that the company is seeing 'green shoots' in exports of biscuits, noodles and snacks while its Aashirvaad Atta is already the market leader in several countries. 'ITC is also exploring strategic opportunities in proximal markets as a potential vector of growth going forward,' it a bulk of ITC's foreign exchange earnings from export is still driven by agri-commodities — export revenue rose 7% to ₹7,708 crore in FY25 — its FMCG export is set to become the next growth driver. The firm said its FMCG products are now sold in over 70 countries. Exports of other consumer goods from apparel, jewellery and consumer electronics to automobiles have also grown last fiscal year.
