THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: So far, the Kerala state government has paid Rs 33.23 crore as rent for private helicopters hired in the name of VIP travel and Maoist operations. This includes the release of Rs 83.8 lakh to settle the due on Pawan Hans' first copter on Thursday by relaxing treasury controls. Chipsan Aviation's new copter has a rental fee of around five crores. With 80 lakh monthly rent, the copter is resting without much work. This hire at exorbitant rates comes at a time when the Air Force and Navy will send copters for emergency purposes if requested by the Chief Secretary.

There is a monthly rent of 80 lakh for the 11-seater French-made twin-engine copter, including fuel, maintenance, staff salaries and parking fees. The copter, which is parked at the hangar unit at Chalakudy, is flown to the capital when required. The Chief Minister rarely flies in it. Governor, Ministers, DGP and Chief Secretary do not use copters. The copter will be brought to Kozhikode from time to time to search for Maoists. The copter will fly for only 25 hours for 80 lakh rupees. Rs 90,000 has to be paid per additional hour. 28.80 crores has to be paid as per the contract for 3 years. The monthly rent for Pawan Hans' first copter was 1.71 crores. 22.15 crore was spent on this copter.

Chipsan's copter has been in use since September 2023. The government informed the Legislative Assembly that due to Z-Plus security, information including the number of times the Chief Minister travelled by copter cannot be disclosed. During the monsoon disaster in Wayanad, the copter had flown from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode with rescue workers. The copter has been used as part of the rescue mission and as an air ambulance. However, the copter was not used during the Meppadi landslide.

Story of the rental copter

• The helicopter was hired as per the constant demand of the police. The rent is paid from the central fund for police modernization, budget allocation and additional grants.
• The police demanded the copter for aerial surveillance, surveillance in forest areas for Maoists, rescue operations, surveillance in coastal areas and tourist and pilgrimage areas.
• Helicopters were used for Maoist hunting and surveillance but to no avail. It is said that when the police went for Maoist surveillance, the Maoists escaped by hearing the sound of the copter.
• The company claims that the copter can fly in adverse weather conditions including at night but the copter will not fly at night or in windy or rainy conditions. Copter cannot be used for rescue missions either.

62 crores!

It would take 60-100 crores to buy a copter. By the time the contract of the current copter ends, about 62 crores will be paid as rent.