Sat Mar 08 07:45:13 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Govt. Relaxes Economy Orders to Pay ₹2.4 Crore Helicopter Bill

**Thiruvananthapuram, March 8, 2025** – The Kerala Finance Department has relaxed its austerity measures to approve a ₹2.4 crore payment for a helicopter leased by the state government. The payment, detailed in a March 6th order, covers the wet lease of a helicopter from Chipsan Aviation Private Limited for a period between October 20, 2024, and January 19, 2025. The order explicitly states that the existing “economy orders” were relaxed to permit this additional expenditure.

This decision follows an earlier unstarred question raised by the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in the State Legislative Assembly on March 3rd, questioning the helicopter’s expenses. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office has yet to respond. The UDF has previously criticized the Chief Minister for the substantial cost of helicopter rentals.

Separately, a political dispute is brewing between the central and state governments over a ₹132 crore demand from Kerala by the Indian Air Force for airlift charges.

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