Mumbai: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised the Maharashtra government for the delay in appointing a maintenance agency for a Rs 82.78‑crore helicopter bought for anti‑Naxalite operations, leaving it grounded for 17 months and causing an avoidable expense of Rs 2.07 crore.
In its Compliance Audit Report for the year 2024, tabled in the state legislative assembly on July 10, the CAG said the Directorate of Aviation, Government of Maharashtra, took nearly 10 months to appoint a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agency after the helicopter was delivered.