The ruling BJP on Friday defended the Gujarat authorities’s choice to purchase a brand new plane value ₹191 crore to ferry Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and different dignitaries, claiming it was essential for security as the present airplane in its fleet was outdated.
The choice had come below fireplace from the opposition Congress in addition to the Aam Aadmi Occasion.
Justifying the acquisition of a brand new 12-seater, twin- engine Bombardier Challenger 650 plane, the Gujarat BJP, in an announcement right this moment, stated the transfer would eradicate an annual expenditure of ₹5 crore which matches into sustaining the 1999-made Beechcraft Tremendous King plane and a 2007-made helicopter.
“When the common man is afraid of travelling in a 10- year-old vehicle, CM Vijay Rupani is risking his life by flying in a 20-year-old plane. The government’s helicopter is dangerous to fly. That helicopter was forced to make emergency landing twice in 2017. Since then, in view of CM’s safety, only private helicopter is being used on most occasions,” stated the assertion.
“The brand new airplane has been bought after 20 years, following a report submitted by the state civil aviation division expressing concern in regards to the fly-worthiness of the helicopter. This choice would save ₹5 crore spent yearly in the direction of the upkeep of outdated plane and helicopter.
New airplane was bought out of necessity, not for anybody’s luxurious,” the assertion stated.
“Since the present aircraft was not able to fly long range, the government was forced to hire private jets, which costs ₹1 lakh and more per hour. This new plane will not only ensure safety of the dignitaries but also save time and money,” the assertion stated in response to criticism.
It additional added the brand new airplane was not meant just for the CM, as it might additionally ferry different dignitaries like deputy CM and the Governor.
Earlier on Thursday, the Congress had tweeted, “VVIP culture has really taken off in the BJP.”
Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda had tweeted, “Public money is being splurged. When farmers in Gujarat are in distress due to unseasonal rain and they are yet to be paid any compensation or insurance, a new plane worth ₹191 crore is being purchased for the Chief Minister.”
Aam Aadmi Occasion chief and Delhi Well being Minister Satyendra Jain tweeted the story revealed in a Hindi every day and wrote “people ask how AAP government managed funds to make women’s travel free in Delhi. It was made possible because your CM (Arvind Kejriwal), instead of buying a plane for himself, used the same money to make the travel free.”
Earlier on Wednesday, officers had introduced that the five-year lengthy procurement course of for a brand new airplane has come to an finish because the two-engine Bombardier Challenger 650 plane value ₹191 crore can be delivered within the subsequent two weeks.
The brand new plane can carry 12 passengers and has a flying vary of round 7,000 kilometers, a lot greater than the current ‘Beechcraft Super King’ plane at the moment in use.
It may well fly with a pace of round 870 kilometers per hour, a lot greater than the 20-year-old Beechcraft.
