Chandigarh: The cash-starved Punjab Government, which spent Rs 38 crore buying a helicopter to cut down on the expense of hiring one, has instead been using both the hired machine as well as the new one for over a month to ferry the Chief Minister, his deputy and even a few ministers across the state and even to and from Delhi.
The state government purchased a twin engine, five-seater Bell 429 helicopter with VIP configuration for Rs 38 crore some months back. At the time of purchase, it had said that using a hired copter cost Rs 1.40 lakh an hour and the state would save money in the long run by owning one.
The new copter started operations with the state government on May 3. Rather than letting go of the EC 135 helicopter on hire, both copters began to be used to optimum capacity. The hired helicopter flew over 35 hours in May, while the new one clocked 38 hours.
07/08/13 Jangveer Singh/The Tribune
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The state government purchased a twin engine, five-seater Bell 429 helicopter with VIP configuration for Rs 38 crore some months back. At the time of purchase, it had said that using a hired copter cost Rs 1.40 lakh an hour and the state would save money in the long run by owning one.
The new copter started operations with the state government on May 3. Rather than letting go of the EC 135 helicopter on hire, both copters began to be used to optimum capacity. The hired helicopter flew over 35 hours in May, while the new one clocked 38 hours.
07/08/13 Jangveer Singh/The Tribune
