Meghalaya seeks central help on tender for chopper service
May 30th, 2011 - 9:23 pm ICT by IANSShillong, May 30 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Monday wrote to the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to float a tender for operating a helicopter service in the mountainous state.
On April 30, the state government suspended operation of the state-run Pawan Hans chopper service hours after a helicopter carrying the then Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu, along with four others, crashed.
“I have written a letter to the DGCA this morning (Monday) requesting them to assist the state in floating a new tender for providing helicopter service,” Transport Minister Abu Taher Mondal told IANS.
He said the licence of Pawan Hans to operate in Meghalaya expired February 2011, but due to requirements of the service it was allowed to operate.
In the letter, Mondal said the government also asked the DGCA to recommend the name of consultants to assist the transport department in preparing the tender document.
Chopper service was introduced in Meghalaya in March 1988, but the service was suspended after it was found financially unviable.
The government re-introduced the helicopter service in 1999 with the union home ministry agreeing to provide 50 percent subsidy for the service. The state government contributed another 25 percent subsidy.
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- Arunachal Pradesh CM on board Pawan Hans chopper goes missing - Apr 30, 2011
- Not resuming helicopter service in northeast: Minister - Jun 26, 2011
- Pawan Hans to conduct thorough check of its fleet - May 03, 2011
- Arunachal Pradesh CM Khandu safe, chopper lands safely in Bhutan - Apr 30, 2011
- Massive search operation to locate Arunachal Pradesh CM - Apr 30, 2011
- Arunachal Pradesh CM Khandu safe, chopper lands at Daporijo - Apr 30, 2011
- Mystery over Arunachal Pradesh CM Khandu's whereabouts deepen - Apr 30, 2011
- BJP demands revamp of Pawan Hans services - May 05, 2011
- Chopper carrying Arunachal chief minister still missing (Night Lead) - May 01, 2011
- Sanjoy takes on civil aviation authorities over Tawang chopper crash - Apr 22, 2011
- Alliance Air to increase flights to north east - May 18, 2011
- Chopper with Arunachal chief minister still missing (Third Lead) - Apr 30, 2011
- Arunachal chief minister's chopper was new: Pawan Hans - May 01, 2011
Tags: chief minister, chopper, civil aviation, dgca, directorate general, helicopter service, mondal, mountainous state, pawan hans, service transport, shillong, state government, subsidy, taher, tender document, transport department, transport minister, union home ministry