13 July,2026 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised the Maharashtra government over delays in appointing a maintenance agency for a helicopter procured for anti-Naxalite operations, stating that the lapse left the aircraft grounded for nearly 17 months and resulted in an avoidable expenditure of Rs 2.07 crore.
According to the Compliance Audit Report for 2024, tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 10, the state's Directorate of Aviation took almost 10 months after the helicopter's delivery to appoint a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agency. The delay meant the helicopter could not undergo mandatory maintenance procedures required to keep it airworthy.
The Maharashtra government approved the purchase of the helicopter in May 2018 to strengthen anti-Naxalite operations in Gadchiroli and adjoining regions. The Directorate of Aviation purchased the H-145 helicopter (registration VT-GOV) from Airbus Helicopters, Germany, for Rs 82.78 crore in July 2019.
The helicopter was delivered on September 18, 2019, and successfully completed its acceptance test flight about a week later. However, the audit found that it could not be deployed because a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved MRO agency had not been appointed to carry out mandatory maintenance and certify its operational readiness.
"The delay of about ten months in finalising the MRO agency resulted in the helicopter not receiving the mandatory daily checks and engine ground runs required to maintain its airworthiness," the report said.
Since no approved maintenance agency was in place, the helicopter was placed under short-term preservation by the manufacturer on September 26, 2019. The CAG noted that M/s Indamer Aviation Pvt Ltd was appointed as the MRO agency only on July 13, 2020.
As the aircraft had remained without mandatory maintenance for several months, it was required to undergo Return to Service (RTS) procedures before it could resume operations. The Directorate of Aviation received DGCA approval in September 2020, following which the RTS work was completed at a cost of Rs 2.07 crore.
"The helicopter had to be placed under short-term preservation and subsequently undergo RTS procedures, for which an expenditure of Rs 2.07 crore was incurred. The delay also rendered the helicopter unavailable for operational use for over 17 months from the date of delivery," the report said.
The helicopter received its airworthiness certificate on December 2, 2020, and was finally inducted into service on February 19, 2021, nearly one year and five months after its delivery to the state government.
The audit report attributed the delay to shortcomings in planning and contract management by the Directorate of Aviation. It observed that the absence of timely arrangements for maintenance directly affected the operational availability of the helicopter and led to avoidable expenditure.
"The lapse indicates inadequate planning and weak contract management in the Directorate of Aviation, which led to avoidable expenditure," the CAG report said.
The CAG also noted that the Directorate of Aviation did not submit its response despite repeated reminders after the audit raised the issue in July 2024. The matter was subsequently referred to the Maharashtra government in September 2025, but a response was still awaited at the time the report was finalised.
The findings highlight concerns over delays in administrative decision-making and contract management in projects involving critical public assets, particularly those intended to support security operations in Naxal-affected areas.
(With inputs from PTI)
