The government has released funds from the National Small Savings account or the purchase and modification of two VVIP aircrafts.
The government has released funds from the National Small Savings account or the purchase and modification of two VVIP aircrafts.
The aircrafts would be used to ferry President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu.
Air India had reportedly proposed to approach Bank of Baroda for a short-term loan of US$ 180 million, but the funds were released from the NSS account.
The released funds now would be used to purchase and modify two Boeing 777-300 ERs, which would replace the earlier 747-400.
The upgrade has been long overdue, with this one coming after 25 years.
The 777-300 ER has two GE90-115B jet engines — the world’s most powerful. The 777-300 will also mean fewer refuelling stops for India's most important trinity.
The aircraft will also be equipped with Wi-Fi on board and have anti-missile protection, a senior official said.
A Boeing 777 unlike the older Boeing 747, which were borrowed from Air India as and when a VVIP visited overseas, can fly non-stop to the US, thereby dispensing with the need to halt for refuelling.
In February and March, Air India inducted three Boeing 777 aircraft + , completing an order of 68 planes placed with the aerospace major in 2006. Two of these three planes will be set aside exclusively for VVIP use.
"The government will buy these aircraft from Air India," a senior official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
An aircraft exclusively for VVIPs — such as the president, vice-president and prime minister — will mean that Air India will no more have to ground aircraft from its fleet for special flights and re-configure them to include VIP enclosures, a press conference room etc for these operations.
Earlier, during the budget announcement for the next fiscal, the government had set aside an amount of Rs 4,469.50 crore for the purchase of these aircraft from Air India.
Officials in the know say that the amount would cover the cost of the plane, their retro-fitment, the cost of a spare engine as well as a special equipment box list or spare parts that need to be mandatorily onboard an aircraft.
(With inputs from PTI)
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 "VVIP planes: President Kovind, PM Narendra Modi to get their own planes by early 2020")
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