Monthly Archives: July 2017

Vizag girl makes India proud at int’l pageant

Visakhapatnam:

City girl Sharanya Mudundi was crowned the ‘Little Miss Grand Sea Intercontinental’ at Grand Sea Universe-2017 held in Sofia, Bulgaria, recently. Adding feathers to her cap, she also won the titles ‘Little Miss Grand Sea Asia-2017’, ‘Miss Popularity’ and ‘Best Interview’ at the fashion pageant .

Nine-year-old Sharanya represented India and competed with children from 30 countries. She also won the title ‘Little Model Earth India-2017’ and ‘Grand Prix Winner Model-2017’ at an international children’s pageant ‘Little Model Earth’ held at Johannesburg, South Africa, in March this year.

Speaking to TOI, Sharanya said, “I was on cloud nine after I won the titles at Sofia. Although it was a challenging task, bagging these has boosted my confidence. The theme being ‘Beauty for a purpose’, there were different rounds during the contest including interview round, national costume round, talent round and evening gown round. I also showcased our rich Indian culture and traditions. I performed yoga in the talent round and it was one of my memorable experience at the global fashion stage.”

Daughter of MSN Raju and M Swati, Sharanya is a Class-V student in Delhi Public School. Balancing both academics and fashion shows, she said that it is the support of her parents coupled with time management that helps her to focus on both.

National Director of India Valentina Mishra, who hails from the city, said, “She is the only Indian girl child to represent India on the global map and to win at an international pageant twice this year.” Valentina was awarded the winner of best director of the year by MMSEA BG, an international agency.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / TNN / July 08th, 2017

On-site work on aircraft museum to begin soon

A file picture of the TU 142 aircraft. | Photo Credit: C_V_Subrahmanyam
A file picture of the TU 142 aircraft. | Photo Credit: C_V_Subrahmanyam

‘Transporting disassembled parts of TU 142 to the site will be completed by weekend’

Work on assembling the decommissioned TU 142 fighter aircraft to convert it into a museum is expected to begin soon at the site earmarked for it on the Beach Road, to inaugurate it by August 15.

The inauguration was planned to coincide with the official Independence Day function of the state government proposed in the city.

However, the Independence Day function is now being planned elsewhere, and the TU 142 inauguration is likely to take place ahead of it, it is learnt.

Retired aircraft engineers and other personnel worked for nearly four weeks at the naval airbase, INS Dega, disassembling the aircraft. An internationally reputed agency had been awarded the work on the aircraft museum. The disassembling itself was said to have cost ₹3.5 crore.

The aircraft, after its decommissioning, flew to Visakhapatnam after the Andhra Pradesh Government evinced interest in converting it into a museum. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu received it at a special function from the Naval authorities.

“Only formal inauguration will take place and the remaining work will continue,” VUDA vice-chairman P. Basanth Kumar told The Hindu.

“Transporting the disassembled parts to the site will be completed by this week-end after which assembling them will be taken up,” Mr. Basant Kumar said.

After the formal inauguration, it would take another two to three months to complete the work.

Escalator and aerobridge

“We are planning to set up an escalator and an aerobridge for entry of visitors to the aircraft as it would be difficult to climb up to the elevation, and exit by a staircase,” he said.

All the spares of TU 145 such as propellers and wings would be put on exhibition with an audio-visual show explaining it, he said.

A souvenir shop, coffee shop, and video games would also be opened outside the aircraft.

The museum is being set up by the Tourism Department at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. VUDA has been assigned the supervising responsibilities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by G.V. Prasada Sarma / Visakhapatnam – July 12th, 2017