The cost of transporting leaders by private planes and helicopters will soar after the Election Commission of India (EC) has fixed rates for hiring choppers in the coming lok Sabha elections in the country. The rates would be between Rs 80,000 and Rs 2.50 lakh per hour depending on the seating capacity of the helicopters. This is the first time that hiring choppers rates would be included in the election expenditure of the political parties and its candidates. The cost of chartering an aircraft or helicopter can rise upto 15-23 per cent during the forthcoming elections.
“The national parties have been using choppers for quite long. Helicopters allow us to cover more places in less time. We can address eight to nine public meetings on a single day through helicopters. The BJP would also hire three or four choppers for the campaigns this season,” said Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan. Aviation experts claim that the number of helicopters that can be seen at Delhi Airport and Safdarjung Airport during the peak campaigning period over the next few weeks can be anywhere between 15 and 20. Political parties are making huge spending on hiring the choppers.
“Average hourly rates for choppers range from Rs 85,000 for a single-engine Bell 407 to Rs 1.3 lakh for the twin-engine Eurocopter 135, one of the most sought-after choppers for electioneering works. The costs vary as per the seating capacity and demand for the helicopter. All helicopters used in the election campaigns are mostly twin engines and equipped with best aviation facilities to ensure safety of the political leaders,” said officials of Civil Aviation Ministry.
Outlining the ‘upper hand’ of choppers over chartered aircraft, Civil Aviation Ministry officials said: “The major strategic advantage of rotorcraft (helicopters) over chartered aircraft is that it can land anywhere but an airstrip with minimum length of 1,800 metres is necessary for take-off or landing of the chartered aircraft. Thus, the use of helicopters in election campaigns is comparatively more efficient, cost-effective and time-saving as well.”