Tanks at NCC grounds rust away

Old armoured personnel carriers lying in state of neglect since 1994

Tanks at NCC grounds rust away

Old armoured personnel carriers lying in state of neglect since 1994

The sight of a mean, business-on-its-mind military tank should fill anybody with awe, the age of the fighting machine notwithstanding. The tanks, or armoured personnel carriers (APCs), at the National Cadet Corps (NCC) grounds on Senapati Bapat Road, however, are in such a dismal condition that these mammoths now seem to be almost embarrassed that they are there, the vagaries of time and indifference having taken a toll on their once-formidable form.

Rust in peace:u00a0 A tank, that is the armoured personnel carriers, which
are lying in a dilapidated state on the NCC grounds on SB Road.
pic/Krunal Gosavi

The famous NCC grounds are home to the NCC Group Headquarters for Pune, which also houses the division offices of the air wing of the NCC. The three defunct APCs have been parked at the ground since 1994, but are lying in an abysmal state of neglect.

The eight-wheeled steel behemoths are rusty, with some of their important parts broken or dangling and some external parts even missing. Two tanks are parked close to the footpath of Senapati Bapat Road, while one is parked near the headquarters buildings. One of the tanks lies in muck with tree leaves strewn all over its metal body on the side of the ground, while another's heavy, bullet-resistant steel armour has large holes.

Some of the exhaust pipes from the engines are either missing or plucked with holes. The tank's rear exit door was also locked with a makeshift chain and the lock and was half-open. The weapons have been removed, with the turret only sporting a holder for the gun, which is used for offensive and defensive purposes.

The ground sees NCC cadets, both boys and girls, who come there for training from different colleges across the city all year round. Cadets are seen practising physical training in combat fatigues along with training and participating in military tactics, obstacle course competitions and parade practice almost every day.

The tanks are shifted around within the ground as and when needed. The NCC headquarters also holds full-fledged camps, with tents and other facilities for training purposes. Army officers maintain that the tanks are neither used for training nor are they showpieces. The machines are still in working condition with the engine and other moving parts intact, but are only "parked" at the grounds after having been decommissioned.

Lieutenant Colonel A Khattri, who trains cadets in the army wing's Armoured Squadron, said the machines would be moved to a different location after they receive official orders for it. "The APCs are not a part of our training curriculum. They are also not in a hazardous condition and neither for public display. We will move them soon," he said, refusing to comment further.