State says no to Pawan Hans offer
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Even as the state-owned Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. has resumed its services in some Northeastern states, the State Government has rejected an offer by Pawan Hans to resume operations in the State.
Talking to a group of journalists here on Thursday, Transport Minister AT Mondal said, “The company officials approached us few days back but we have rejected their offer.”
“The company officials had stated that they would use brand new choppers but we still refused it,” Mondal added.
The Pawan Hans services were suspended in six Northeastern states including Meghalaya after Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others were killed in a crash earlier this year.
The chopper company had resumed its services in Sikkim and Tripura on Tuesday with double-engine choppers instead of the previous single-engine aircraft.
According to Mondal, the State Government would hire a consultancy to look into the various details before coming up with the tender paper for a new company which will render its services in the State.
“We are strict on tender and even the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials have been asked to give their suggestions on the consultancy which would prepare the tender paper,” he added.
The State Government has already written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to float tenders for operating a helicopter service in the State. A reminder would be sent to the DGCA in this regard, Mondal added.