Nagpur: Maharashtra govt’s failure to appoint maintenance agency on time left Rs82.78-crore helicopter meant for anti-Naxal operations in Gadchiroli grounded for nearly 17 months after delivery, forcing an avoidable expenditure of Rs2.07 crore to make it airworthy again, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said.The irregularity has been highlighted in the latest CAG report tabled during the monsoon session of Maharashtra legislature.According to the CAG, state govt decided in May 2018 to procure a helicopter to improve access to remote Naxal-affected areas in Gadchiroli and neighbouring districts.The Directorate of Aviation purchased an Airbus H-145 helicopter (registration VT-GOV) from Airbus Helicopters, Germany, in July 2019 for Rs82.78 crore. The helicopter was delivered on Sept 18, 2019, and successfully completed its acceptance test flight on Sept 25, 2019.Under Aircraft Rules, 1937, an aircraft can be operated only with a valid certificate of airworthiness and must be maintained by a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation. Daily inspections, engine ground runs and pre- and post-flight checks are mandatory to keep an aircraft airworthy.However, the directorate failed to finalise an MRO agency before taking delivery of the helicopter. As a result, the aircraft could not undergo mandatory maintenance and was placed under short-term preservation by the manufacturer from Sept 26, 2019, CAG said in its report.An audit found that M/s Indamer Aviation Pvt Ltd was appointed as the MRO agency only on July 13, 2020, nearly 10 months after the helicopter was received.The audit said the prolonged period without maintenance had rendered the helicopter unfit for immediate operations by the time the agency was appointed. This necessitated a return to service (RTS) procedure.After obtaining DGCA approval in Sept 2020, the MRO agency carried out extensive restoration work, including multiple engine ground runs and test flights, which continued till Dec 1, 2020. The directorate also paid Rs 2.07 crore for the RTS exercise.Although DGCA issued the helicopter’s airworthiness certificate on Dec 2, 2020, the helicoper was deployed for operations only on Feb 19, 2021, around one year and five months after its acceptance. The CAG observed that the directorate’s inadequate planning and weak contract management resulted not only in avoidable expenditure but also kept the helicopterunavailable for over 17 months.The audit further noted that the Directorate of Aviation did not respond to the audit observations despite repeated reminders after the issue was flagged in July 2024. The matter was referred to the state govt in Sept 2025, whose reply was awaited when the report was finalised.DELAY AT A GLANCE• Purpose: Anti-Naxal operations in Gadchiroli and adjoining districts • Helicopter: Airbus H-145 (VT-GOV) • Buying cost: Rs 82.78 crore • Delivered: September 18, 2019 • Acceptance test flight: September 25, 2019 • MRO agency appointed: July 13, 2020 • Return to Service cost: Rs2.07 crore • Airworthiness Certificate issued: December 2, 2020• First operational use: February 19, 2021• Time lost after delivery: About 17 months• CAG finding: Poor planning and weak contract management led to avoidable expenditure of Rs2.07 crore and delayed deployment of a helicopter procured for anti-Naxal operations
