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Open-Air Museum Features INS Gomti Artifacts and Tu-142M Aircraft; India’s Defence Exports Value Hits ₹40,000 Crore
ANYTIME NEWS NETWORK Pooja Srivastava
LUCKNOW. Marking a major milestone in celebrating India’s rich maritime heritage, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated the ‘Naval Shaurya Vatika’ (Naval Gallantry Park) in Lucknow on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Built across a sprawling area of over two acres at a cost of ₹19 crore, this state-of-the-art open-air museum stands as a grand tribute to the bravery, spirit, and unmatched valor of the Indian Navy. The park beautifully showcases the decommissioned weapon systems and artifacts of the iconic warship INS Gomti, which was phased out on May 29, 2022, after 34 years of illustrious service.
Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the Shaurya Vatika not merely as a tourist spot but as a beacon of inspiration that will remind future generations of the true cost of freedom. Applauding the Indian Navy’s operational readiness amid ongoing global geopolitical shifts, he emphasized that secure maritime channels remain vital for international peace and economic prosperity.
Recalling the strategic masterstrokes of the armed forces, Rajnath Singh highly praised the Navy’s role during ‘Operation Sindhu’. He remarked, “The formidable and dominant positioning of our Navy in the Arabian Sea instilled a constant fear in the mind of the adversary. As a direct result, the Pakistani Navy remained restricted and cornered entirely within its own ports.”
Underscoring the government’s aggressive push toward an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India), the Defence Minister shared that domestic defence production has skyrocketed from a mere ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹1.51 lakh crore today, swiftly marching toward the target of ₹1.75 lakh crore. Concurrently, India’s defence exports have witnessed an exponential leap, jumping from under ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to a whopping ₹40,000 crore under the current Modi administration. He credited the UP Defence Industrial Corridor for playing a pivotal catalyst role in this manufacturing revolution.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid solemn tributes to the fallen heroes, stating that economic development can only thrive in a safe and well-protected nation. He reiterated that ensuring the welfare of defense personnel is a core component of the vision to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The high-profile ceremony was attended by UP Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, alongside top military and bureaucratic brass.
Inside the Naval Shaurya Vatika Museum
The open museum features heavy naval weaponry, including an AK-726 twin gun, a ZIF-101 launcher for surface-to-air missiles, torpedo launchers, the original radar of INS Gomti, ship masts, anchors, and anti-ship missile models. A prime attraction is the massive walkthrough museum created inside the decommissioned Tu-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft. Developed under Phase-II of the project, the park also houses tourist facilities like food courts, souvenir shops, and an advanced digital light-and-sound system.
