CHANDIGARH – Even as Punjab is passing through acute fiscal crisis, the lone aircraft owned by the state government, which is normally used to ferry Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal has put a burden of around Rs13.12 crore on the state exchequer in the last three years.
The Bell-429 helicopter was purchased by the government for Rs38 crore approximately in December 2012. Sources said the aircraft began operations only in May 2013.
Documents with The Tribune reveal that since its purchase, the aircraft has consumed fuel costing over Rs1.71 crore. The helicopter is being managed by the Department of Civil Aviation.
The sources said the aircraft had remained in air so far around 1,300 hours in the last three years. This means that every single hour, which the Punjab VIPs spend while flying in Bell-429, is causing burden of over Rs1 lakh to the state exchequer.
Interestingly, the annual maintenance cost of the aircraft is higher even than the fuel cost. The department has spent over Rs3.16 crore for its maintenance till now, with maintenance cost highest in 2015 soaring to around Rs1.61 crore.
There are around 24 employees working in the department — three pilots, a flight dispatcher, three technicians, six helpers, a chief engineer, an air worthy man and a quality manager — dedicated solely for operations of the aircraft, the sources added.
Documents also reveal that the state has spent over Rs61.58 lakh to pay an annual premium for three years to an insurance agency till now.
