Pune: The state government on Tuesday revised its estimate for procuring the US-manufactured Sikorsky helicopter for VIP travel “in view of the increasing rate of dollar as compared to the rupee”.The falling rupee in the last four months will hike the deal for a chopper for governor Vidyasagar Rao and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis by Rs 18 crore.The cost escalation was estimated by officials of the general administration department (GAD) through a government resolution which states that the state will pay Rs 80 for the dollar taking the cost to Rs 145.27 crore from the earlier Rs 127.11 crore when the government was paying Rs 70 against the dollar.GAD officials told TOI that the rates would be according to the dollar rate at the time of completion of payment. “When we initiated talks, the dollar rate was Rs 64 and we readied the GR in May by stating that we would pay at the rate of Rs 70 for the dollar. With the dollar expected to become stronger, the new rate was fixed,” an official said.The state government had grounded its helicopter, also a Sikorsky, after it crash-landed last May in Latur. Fadnavis and six others on board escaped unhurt. The CM's media advisor Ketan Pathak was slightly bruised but was only needed minor first-aid.The state government only relief from the deal would be that it would have to pay 20% initially and the rest after 14 months, GAD officials said.The resolution states that the falling rupee would increase the state government’s outflow for the helicopter deal.“We had to change the GR as we had to go by the new rates. However, the final amount would be on the final remittance amount next year. The deal was finalized last September. The order was issued this May and revised this week. We will have to see where the value of the dollar goes and the amount would have to paid accordingly,’’ the officer said.The government will pay 20% for the helicopter cost in the next week, the officials said. The advance would be about Rs 3.5 crore.The government should address cess issues on petrol and fuel and offer better public transport services rather than spend money on choppers for VIP movement. This seems to be an election agenda for next year for campaigning purpose, Pune-based activist Vivek Velankar said.A committee headed by the chief secretary had approved purchase of a Sikorsky S 76 D for chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.The cabinet sanctioned the proposal in September 2017 and appointed a committee led by the chief secretary, who recommended purchase of the helicopters after studying the technical and financial bids.The state made a budgetary provision of Rs 250 crore through a supplementary demand during the monsoon session.

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