The state government spent Rs 58.5 crore — Rs 34.26 crore and Rs 24.24 crore in 2022 and 2023 respectively — on overhead costs that include expenditure on maintenance, fuel, pilots and other staff, parking and rents, of state-owned planes and helicopters, said data tabled in the Gujarat Assembly Monday. However, terming it “sensitive information”, the government refused to divulge details of the agency that has been tasked for maintenance and operation of aircraft as it “is related with the security of the state’s highest officials". The submission came in response to a question posed by Congress MLA Arvind Ladani. In response to another question by the legislator, the data stated that the government paid Rs 2.79 crore for maintenance and another Rs 16.26 crore for operations of aircraft in 2022 and 2023. The government also said it had approved the purchase of a new aircraft for Rs 197.90 crore on August 26, 2019. The new aircraft was received on November 21, 2019. Additionally, it spent Rs 1.81 crore on maintenance of the said aircraft and another Rs 8.94 crore on operations in 2022. In 2023, the state government spent Rs 98 lakh on maintenance and Rs 7.31 crore on operations.
