CAG raps Maharashtra as Rs 82.78 cr helicopter lay idle for 17 months, flags Rs 2 cr avoidable cost

The Comptroller and Auditor General CAG has criticised the Maharashtra government over delays in appointing a maintenance agency for a helicopter procured for antiNaxalite operations stating that the lapse left the aircraft grounded for nearly 17 months and resulted in an avoidable expenditure of Rs 207 croreAccording to the Compliance Audit Report for 2024 tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 10 the states Directorate of Aviation took almost 10 months after the helicopters 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 airworthyDelay in appointing maintenance agencyThe Maharashtra government approved the purchase of the helicopter in May 2018 to strengthen antiNaxalite operations in Gadchiroli and adjoining regions The Directorate of Aviation purchased the H145 helicopter registration VTGOV from Airbus Helicopters Germany for Rs 8278 crore in July 2019The 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 DGCAapproved MRO agency had not been appointed to carry out mandatory maintenance and certify its operational readinessThe 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 saidHelicopter remained grounded for over 17 monthsSince no approved maintenance agency was in place the helicopter was placed under shortterm preservation by the manufacturer on September 26 2019 The CAG noted that Ms Indamer Aviation Pvt Ltd was appointed as the MRO agency only on July 13 2020As 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 207 croreThe helicopter had to be placed under shortterm preservation and subsequently undergo RTS procedures for which an expenditure of Rs 207 crore was incurred The delay also rendered the helicopter unavailable for operational use for over 17 months from the date of delivery the report saidThe 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 governmentCAG cites weak planning and contract managementThe 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 expenditureThe lapse indicates inadequate planning and weak contract management in the Directorate of Aviation which led to avoidable expenditure the CAG report saidState government yet to respondThe 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 finalisedThe findings highlight concerns over delays in administrative decisionmaking and contract management in projects involving critical public assets particularly those intended to support security operations in Naxalaffected areasWith inputs from PTI