This Lady CM To Buy Whooping 100 Crore Jet

BANGALORE: In what could be a very costly move by the newly elected Chief Minister Anandiben, the Gujarat Govt is all set to spend a whopping 100 crore on a new aircraft, which will oversee the CMs travelling activities, as reported by TNN.  

As the existing carrier a nine-seater Super King Air Beechcraft 200 is inching towards its maximum life of 15 years, this in turn has insisted the Gujarat Govt to take a call on the new jet for it’s newly flown in Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

"The present aircraft was bought for Rs 19.12 crore by then CM Keshubhai Patel from an agent in 1999. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Public Account Committee had criticized the purchase procedure then. The maximum lifespan of the aircraft ends this year. This aircraft faces technical glitches time and again, forcing the CM and other VVIPs to use private planes. Buying a new aircraft is inevitable," said a source.

To oversee the proceedings a high-level technical committee recommended by the Govt to buy a 12-to-15 seater new aircraft. The committee will ensure that all the latest amenities and best safety standards are incorporated as suggested by the Director General of Civil Aviation.

"The state government has allocated 1 crore to initiate the process of buying the plane through global tendering. Soon, advertisements will be placed in international publications. Due to increased prices and the high dollar rate, the new aircraft may cost over 100 crore," the official said.

After the death of Andhra Pradesh ex-CM YSR Reddy in an unfortunate air crash, the outgoing UPA Govt had made a list of safety standards to be compulsory to avoid such incidents. And addionally the Gujarat Govt has even spent 10.85 crore in installing new safety equipment in the aircraft that will soon be grounded for rest of its life.
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