Odisha spent Rs 17.89 crore for helicopter trips of CM, other ministers in two years

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Mar 13, 2023 at 9:31 PM

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has spent Rs 17.89 crore for the helicopter trips of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Cabinet colleagues in last two years, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari in the Assembly today.

The minister made this revelation while replying to a question of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati in the Assembly.

Oppn fumes as Budget Session of Odisha Assembly adjourned sine die

Another scam in BSKY comes to fore in Odisha’s Cuttack; 2 held

The Chief Minister and other ministers have made 76 helicopter trips from March, 2021 to February, 2023 and the state government has spent Rs 17,89,13,713 in this regard, revealed the minister.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Cabinet colleagues including Ashok Chandra Panda, Tusharkanti Behera, Padmini Dian, Padmanabh Behera, Naba Kisore Das, Sudam Marndi, Pratap Jena, Samir Ranjan Dash, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Jagannath Saraka and Tukuni Sahu have travelled in helicopters to various places in Odisha during the said the period, revealed the written reply by Pujari.

The Chief Minister made the highest number (32) of helicopter trips to various places of Odisha in between March, 2021 and February, 2023.

Minister Tusharkanti Behera made 11 helicopter trips during the above said period.

Naba Kisore Das, who was killed by a police ASI on January 29 this year, also made four helicopter trips during his tenure as the Health Minister of Odisha.