Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081054460600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Submarine Museum celebrates sixth anniversary

Staff Reporter

—Photo: K.R. Deepak

Big draw: Students coming out of the Kursura Submarine Museum in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Standing tall against the serene Bay of Bengal, the Kursura Submarine Museum bears testimony of the three decades of yeoman’s service she rendered under water to the safeguard the interests of the nation.

Grand Old Lady

The museum, one of its kinds in Asia, celebrated its sixth anniversary on Saturday. Students from various schools and institutions visited the museum on Saturday and learned about the history of INS Kursura Submarine that was inducted into the Indian Navy in December 1969 and decommissioned in February 2001.

The submarine played a major role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Considered the Grand Old Lady of the Indian Navy, INS Kursura, India’s fourth submarine, was hauled on the beach with the help of the National Ship Design and Research Centre (NASDRC) in 2001 and was formally inaugurated by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The submarine displays its complete weapon package, including torpedoes, and gives the public an insight into the life of a submariner. The VUDA entered into an understanding with the Navy for maintenance of the museum and it charges Rs. 25 per adult and Rs. 15 per child towards entry fee.

Over the years, the number of visitors registered a steady increase.

On an average 2.30 lakh people visit the museum every year and so far around 15 lakh visitors have made their memorable visit to the submarine museum.

The revenue earned during the corresponding period was Rs.36 lakhs (2002-03), Rs.47.98 lakhs (2003-04), Rs.47.70 lakhs (2004-05), Rs.50.60 lakhs (2005-06), Rs.50.60 lakhs (2006-07) and Rs.61.17 lakhs during 2007-08.