Haryana will soon purchase 9-seater helicopter for VVIPs - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Haryana will soon purchase 9-seater helicopter for VVIPs

Jun 30, 2022 02:10 PM IST

Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party (BJP-JJP) government in Haryana is buying a twin-engine nine-seater helicopter to provide chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and governor Bandaru Dattatreya with air transport services, officials said Wednesday

Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party (BJP-JJP) government in Haryana is buying a twin-engine nine-seater helicopter to provide chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and governor Bandaru Dattatreya with air transport services, officials said Wednesday. The Haryana government already has a 10-seater Beechcraft King Air 250 twin-turboprop aircraft purchased in 2018 for VVIPs.

HT Image
HT Image

Officials added that the high-powered purchase committee (HPPC) of the state government, after conducting negotiations with Airbus Helicopters, Germany, finalised the purchase of the chopper, Airbus H145-D3. The helicopter will cost the public exchequer about 77 crore ($97,55,689).

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Officials said that the negotiations resulted in a benefit of $3,00,000, amounting to about 3% of the offered base price. This includes fitting the helicopter with improved sound-proofing, strobe lights and a night vision goggle compatible cockpit free of cost, an official said.

‘Existing helicopter too old, VVIP safety important’

Justifying the acquisition of the latest flying machine, officials said the state government had last purchased a helicopter (Eurocopter EC-145) for VVIPs was in 2008-09. The ageing Eurocopter is frequently grounded and costs a lot to maintain, they added. The process to procure a new twin engine helicopte rto replace the existing machine began when global bid was floated in December 2021.The pre-bid meeting was attended by the three original equipment manufacturers -- Airbus Helicopters, Germany, Leonardo SpA, Italy, and Bell Textron Aviation, US. A single bid was received on the due date of tender submission on March 22 from Airbus Helicopters. “In view of the ageing and frequent grounding of the existing helicopter and keeping in mind the safety of VVIPs, the offer given by Airbus Helicopters was taken up for evaluation by the Civil Aviation department. A state delegation will also visit the manufacturing facility after the formal purchase order is placed.

Officials said that Airbus Helicopters has agreed to deliver the helicopter in 15 months from the date of signing the purchase agreement.

The Beechcraft King Air 250 was purchased by the BJP government in 2018 for 62,50,000 (around 40 crore then). The Eurocopter EC-145 was purchased by the Congress government at a cost of €5.5 million (about 33 crore then) in 2009.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Hitender Rao is Senior Associate Editor covering the state of Haryana. A journalist with over two decades of experience, he writes on politics, economy, migration and legal affairs with a focus on investigative journalism.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On