Meghalaya likely to resume Pawan Hans chopper service

SHILLONG: Meghalaya government is likely to resume the chopper services of state-run Pawan Hans in the absence of qualified bidders, Transport Minister A T Mondal said today.

Its services were suspended in the wake of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu's death in a crash on April 30, 2011.

Meghalaya had sought from bidders for an all-weather twin-engine chopper which could withstand the test of erratic climatic conditions prevailing in the state, the terrain and which uses state-of-the-art safety technology.

"Except for Pawan Hans Pvt Ltd, no other service providers have come forward to bid in the tendering process which began since March 30 and re-extended for several times," Mondal said.

Initially, four bidders had come forward and sought for more clarification in the matter, but did not pursue it after realising that the profit component would not be as they expected, he said.

"We are in the process to study the bid and after that we will take a decision on whether or not their service will be resumed," the Minister said.

According to the chopper service plan of the government, service providers should be ready to fly in the Shillong-Tura- Guwahati-Shillong route. It will need to be flown to other stations too on the directions of the state government.

Besides this, it should also be made available for additional flights beyond the normal flight schedule, as and when necessary, an official bid statement said.

Pawan Hans began their services in Meghalaya in March 1988, which was later suspended because the company said this was "financially unviable."