Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio flagged-off the helicopter service by Thumby Aviation Pvt. Ltd. which has been given licence continuously since 2010 on two-year basis and through e-tender.
Flagging of the services at Dimapur airport Wednesday, Rio urged upon Thumby Aviation Ltd. to provide good services and also expressed optimism that company with the signing of MoU would be further equipped for rendering services to the people of the State.
According to DIPR, the chief minister underscored the need for two choppers to be operational so that one could be kept for regularly catering to the needs and welfare of the people especially the sick and the elderly. Rio said chopper service is also needed during VVIP visits and also for the movement of VIP/official visits in far-flung areas.
He also suggested that chopper services should be available especially during the much-hyped annual Hornbill festival so that tourists get the opportunity to visit the famed and beautiful Dzu-kou valley.
This time through the MoU, the state has given the firm a virtual dominance with a four-year deal till 2027. This has also raised some eyebrows at some quarters particularly over the terms and conditions contained in the e-tender that saw no other competitor(s).
Under the agreement M/s Thumby Aviation Pvt. Ltd. will operate two helicopters (Bell 412) for a period of four years with an annual ceiling of 1,200 flying hours.
The helicopter service is a scheme under the union home ministry.
Highlighting the operation of Helicopter services in the state, NST general manager Shikaho P Yepthomi informed that the chopper service was introduced in 1988, but discontinued due to the unfortunate crash in 1989 February.
NST general manager also informed that helicopter services were reintroduced in Nagaland again in 2007 under the personal initiative of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and since then it has been rendering services.
Aviation Co. CMD, Captain KNG Nair, informed the firm will be operating with two Bell 412 Helicopters and another chopper A 109 would be kept on standby. He said the aircraft has a sit-ting capacity of 13 passengers plus two pilots while the baggage compartment can carry around 400 pounds of cargo.
The Company has been operating in Nagaland since 2010 on a two-year term contract basis, initially with one helicopter. However, Captain Nair said that since 2010, services were being rendered with two choppers with the increase in demand.
The MoU also revealed a significant shift in decision by the state to provide a four-year period for Nair’s Aviation firm to operate effective from June 26,2023 to June 26, 2027.
Advisor transport, Temjenmemba, Airport director Geetha Sahu, OSD transport and aviation, Ababe Ezung, officials from NST department, and others attended the flagging off ceremony.