Pune: There is a surge in demand of booking choppers as political parties look forward to give their star campaigners maximum comfort while planning itineraries for rallies in different cities across Maharashtra. Polls to the 29 municipal corporations are scheduled to be conducted on Jan 15.Representatives of aviation firms said nearly 12 choppers had been booked until now. “Two to three of the choppers are already flying with the politicians. Even during the municipal council elections, helicopters were booked by many,” Ishwarchandra Gulgule, managing director of Kaigu Aviation Private Limited, told TOI.He further said during the Lok Sabha or assembly elections choppers fly for 45 campaigning days. “However, that number comes down to 10 in the case of local polls. The cost of hiring is charged on a per-hour basis and also depends on whether the machine is a single- or dual-engine. The rates, when compared with the assembly elections held last year, slightly went up because of the rising aviation fuel prices and other factors, but this did not affect the bookings,” Gulgule said.At present, the cost of renting out a twin-engine chopper ranges between Rs4 lakh and Rs8 lakh while it is between Rs1.7 lakh and Rs3 lakh for a single-engine helicopter. Collectively, there are around 12 choppers in Pune and Mumbai.Representative of another aviation firm expressed surprise over the bookings in civic polls. “It might be that since these elections are beind held after nine years, there is a high demand. Presently, a seat-sharing formula between parties is being decided. The number of bookings will increase after Dec 31 and will reach the highest between Jan 1 and 13,” he said.Sources said stalwarts such as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CM Ajit Pawar, ministers Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Pankaja Mundhe, etc, are actively using choppers. “This a good way to reach multiple locations quickly. During the municipal council polls, a political party booked five choppers. The number of helipads has shot up in Pune — from five last year to 15 now. The industry is almost booming in the city,” Gulgule pointed out.In an earlier conversation, Pune airport officials said non-scheduled flight operations, which included those of charter aircraft and choppers, had increased. “On average, the airport records 12 operations every day,” an official said.Minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said earlier this year that the Hadapsar Gliding Centre, which was transferred to the Airports Authority of India, would be converted into a heliport.Also, with 300 acres of land identified for runway extension and other projects at Pune airport, there is a plan to set up a proper facility for non-scheduled operations.
