Govt to depend on rented choppers for next 6-8 months

After crash-landing of one chopper on Thursday and the other one being grounded for a long time, state government will have to reply upon rented choppers at least for six to eight months.

There is no proposal whatsoever before the state Cabinet to buy new choppers for the state. The state government has already empaneled two companies that will be providing small planes and choppers on rent. Flying of VVIPs will rely upon availability of planes or choppers.

State government has 2 choppers and 2 planes for VVIPs. One plane and one chopper is grounded and can not fly. A chopper carrying Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his team crashed at Latur on Thursday. It will take at least 3-4 months for its repairs. The other chopper, which was bought in the year 2000, is grounded since it needs major overhaul that will cost more than 60 per cent of the cost of a new chopper.

When contacted over phone, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar informed that there are no plans of buying new chopper at the moment. He also added that if a chopper is to be bought it will take at least 6 to 8 months.