Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): After the unsuccessful bid to purchase a mid-size jet in 2022, the state government is contemplating the acquisition of a new aircraft for VIP travel. The cost of the new jet, including all taxes, is likely to cross Rs 250 crore, much more than the last deal which could not be sealed. The last aircraft, deal of which could not be materialised was of Rs 210 crore, including the base price of Rs 156 crore.
An officer of the aviation department said that the new mid size jet is likely to cost around Rs 250 crores including taxes. A Request For Proposal (RFP) is being prepared to buy the new plane.
The RFP will soon be tabled before the High Power Committee headed by Chief Secretary to get the approval. After this, bids will be floated and suitable companies would be selected as per the minimum bid price.
In 2022, the aviation department had floated RFP to buy a double engine mid size jet, with nine plus two seats (two for pilots). The USA-based Textron Company had shown interest in the bidding process by quoting Rs 156 crores as the base price for Jet excluding other taxes.
However, the deal could not be materialized as Textron increased price by Rs 10 crore citing that the process would enter 2023. The state government, however, wanted the deal to close on the last quoted price and was not ready to pay additional Rs 10 crore.
Besides, Textron was seeking more time than expected to deliver the jet. Thus the government plan to buy the jet could not be materialised in 2022. Had the government purchased Textron’s Jet then, it would have cost exchequer Rs 210 crores including taxes.
Govt has no state aircraft
Currently the state government does not own a plane as Air King 250, the aircraft it owned had crash landed at Gwalior airport in 2021. Since then the government has been using rented planes to ferry CM and VIPs. An officer of the aviation department claimed that the state government is paying between Rs 1 crores and Rs 2 crores per month as its rent.
Process for RFP underway
We are in process to come up with a Request for Proposal (RFP) to buy the new state plane. Soon the RFP will be finalized, Commissioner, Aviation Department, Chandramauli Shukla told Free Press “
