Poll rules delay sale of CM chopper, date extended

The sale of the defunct state owned US made Sikorsky helicopter in which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with an accident in May 2017 has hit a road-block with the model code of conduct in place due to ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The state's aviation department has extended the dates for selling the helicopter by a month to avoid any controversy.

The state aviation department got no response last month for the sale of the US made helicopter, post which it had extended bidding dates till May 6, 2019. But once again the date has been extended for one more month citing administrative reason.

A official from state's aviation department said, "The main reason for extending the dates was to not clash with model code of conduct that is in place. We want to avoid any kind of controversy by going ahead with selling during code of conduct. If we wanted, we could have taken permission from the election commission for the same, but we have decided to hold."

Recently, Fadnavis had written to election commission regarding relaxing conditions of model code of conduct in order to be in a position for awarding certain work for drought relief in the state, and the same had got a go ahead from election commission. In the past too, in case of an urgency, awarding of work was allowed by the election commission.

The helicopter that is out for sale is not being used post the accident in May 2017, and there are no plans to repair and bring it back to use. The helicopter carrying Fadnavis and senior state government officials in May 2017 had got entangled with over head cable wires post which it had bad landing.

There were no injuries, but the helicopter was damaged. Later, probe indicated several lapses on part of the pilot over following the procedures for operations.

The particular helicopter has been used for total 1265 hours since its purchase in 2011 by the state government for around Rs 54 crore, and the state government has invited private parties to quote price for the helicopter on 'as is where is basis and what is' basis.

The helicopter's all four main rotor blades are damaged and had sheared off after the impact of the accident, and it will be sold to the private party that quotes the highest. Those who purchase will also get some spare parts for repair and maintenance of the helicopter.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis in the past has had nearly 3 to 4 incidents where the helicopter either met with an accident or developed a technical glitch, delaying his official visits. The helicopter was purchased by former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, and was being used by him for official touring in the state.

MISHAPS IN PAST

• January 11, 2018 – Chopper M900 carrying Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis & Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari  escape major accident as the pilot pulls out of landing in the nick of time as he spots cables in approach path at Bhayandar
   
• December 9, 2017 – A helicopter carrying Fadnavis faces an emergency landing at Nasik due to overloading. His cook is offloaded.
   
• July 7, 2017 – Fadnavis narrowly escapes the helicopter mishap near Alibaug as he missed being struck by the chopper’s tail when the pilot starts the engines before the CM had boarded. He is then safely pushed out by the security guards.
   
• May 25, 2017 – Fadnavis escapes after a Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter  meets with a mishap at Latur after being entangled in overhead wires

Compiled by DNA – Research N Archives