Locals for promotion of Bheemili

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 22, 2014:  While the state government is promoting tourism in Vizag, concerns are being raised over neglecting Bheemili. Locals want the government to take steps to promote Bheemili as a tourism hub by establishing a maritime museum along with a war ship grouted for display on the lines of the submarine museum on the beach road. They also wrote to union tourism  minister K Chiranjeevi  in this regard.

A prominent tourist attraction with minimum cost and within a short lead-time can be built by grounding a de-commissioned Naval warship and converting it into a museum to highlight the maritime heritage of AP coast along with  Bheemili’s Dutch maritime past, said Capt Lawrence Nathaniel RD of Visakha Veteransm, an NGO.

“A de-commissioned naval or merchant vessel can be beached and grouted at Bheemunipatnam at reasonable cost and within a short time. After suitable modification and re-fit, the vessel can serve as a museum to highlight the Maritime Heritage of AP Coast along including Bheemili’s Dutch Maritime past. In fact, we are already making every effort to identify a Decommissioned Warship and examining the process and costs involved in grounding (or grouting) it at Beemili seafront. This will attract tourists from entire India,” he said.   

A larger maritime museum and technology centre in a phased manner can be built to showcase India’s Maritime Heritage and to continually disseminate knowledge on advancements in maritime technologies, he said and added that a preliminary proposal has already been prepared by their consultant for the museum that costs at around Rs 120 crs.

Another member of Visakha Veterans, Satyanarayana said Bheemili can be developed as a nodal point for facilitating to and fro transportation of tourists by ship to the Andaman Islands. The proposition will be economically viable and within the reach of a large number of Indians from across the country and from abroad. At the same time, it can offer an exciting package to attract tourists of all ages.

“Despite India’s long sea coast, most Indians have very limited opportunities to sail to our own islands as tourists and adventure-seekers. Understanding of the maritime sector and marine and offshore technologies also tends to be very limited among our general public and youngsters,” Satyanrayana added.  

Members of Visakha Veterans offered to actively involve themselves in the initiatives.