Madhya Pradesh | The state gets set for a fancy jet

The MP government replaces its turboprop aircraft with a Rs. 250 crore business jet. The state's slim coffers now have to make space for airport upgrades

ISSUE DATE: Nov 23, 2026

Looking for a sign of son-of-the-soil politics gaining new heights? Look no further than the new arrival at the state hangar in Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport. A gleaming, brand-new Bombardier Challenger 3500 super-midsize jet had touched down on the runway from Canada on October 21. This classy workhorse, soon to enter state service, was snapped up for Rs 250 crore. By contrast, merely replacing its predecessor—a Beechcraft King Air B250—would have cost a third of that. The new bird also marks another upgrade: it’s the first time Madhya Pradesh has bought a jet. As for the state’s VVIPs, they have had to make do with a turbo propeller aircraft till now.

Finally, however, MP joins an elite flock of jetsetting states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu—reducing an important altitude gap at the federal level. If everything goes to plan, its citizens could be watching with pride as chief minister Mohan Yadav leaves elegant contrail streaks in the sky by early December.

MP has traditionally always kept a dedicated fleet of fixed-wing planes and helicopters for its VVIPs—the CM, Governor, cabinet ministers or anyone the state civil aviation department authorises. Till recently, it did not have to rely on leasing aircraft, as some other states do. The Bombardier’s appearance on the tarmac has aroused much interest within the Opposition and media for two reasons: one, of course, the excitement that a jet always brings; and two, the resolve with which the state government has chosen to show its appreciation of class and value even in the face of straitened finances. The strain of poll-oriented sops has been quite visible on the exchequer, but the concern for the state’s asmita has not been allowed to dip. But what allowed this?

The quest for a jet goes back a few years. In 2019, a state-owned Beechcraft King Air B200 was completing its official lifespan and the Kamal Nath government had to take a call. Sources in the civil aviation department say Nath, who had a kingly interest in aviation, was initially keen on replacing it with a jet. But pilots apparently told him that the expensive flying machine would have limited utility within the state, and the then CM opted to buy a Beechcraft King Air B250. That aircraft arrived in 2020, by which time Nath could not really showcase his yen for official austerity. He had been replaced by Shivraj Singh Chouhan as CM.

In May 2021, while ferrying Remdesivir injections from Ahmedabad to Gwalior, the almost-new aircraft, which had been procured for Rs 65 crore, hit an arresting barrier installed at one end of the runway at Gwalior airport—a dual civil and military use facility. The B250 was retired hurt and still languishes in trauma ward: it has till date not found any buyers as scrap. To add to the rueful mood it left behind, it had not been insured either. The state then began leasing aircraft, and it was only in 2022 that attempts to make a fresh buy began. A technical committee was formed, with pilots, engineers, finance experts and state civil aviation officials as members, to scour the skies for a good bird.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

After diligent window-shopping, the expert panel, in its wisdom, recommended a business jet. Textron is said to have shown interest as a vendor, but its stated price crossed Rs 200 crore and the plan was shelved. In 2024, the process began afresh. The technical committee this time suggested buying a super-midsize business jet. The idea was presented before the empowered committee headed by the chief secretary, which cleared it. A tender was called. Bombardier and Embraer responded. MP again exhibited its frugality by opting for the cheaper Bombardier.

Why a jet and not a turboprop as of old, especially since the latter suffices for travel within the state? Keep in mind, the state’s VVIPs do not really have to travel too far. “Safety is a very important concern. The jet is safer given its higher operating altitude. It has greater endurance and saves time for the VVIPs,” says a member of the technical committee, not wishing to be identified. He adds that the Bombardier can fly 6,300 km without refuelling, a feat not possible in a turboprop. To fully showcase that capacity, an MP dignitary will have to be flown non-stop to, say, St Petersburg, Beijing, Tokyo, Berlin, Cairo or West Papua on the eastern tip of Indonesia. Which is a pity since smog-greyed New Delhi may usually mark the farthest airdash on the radar for land-locked VVIPs here.

THE TAKE-OFF COST

That mismatched scale shows up in other ways too. The Bombardier needs a minimum runway length of 1,500-2,000 metres to take off and land. Presently, only seven airports in MP (Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Indore, Khajuraho and Datia) and three airstrips (Mandla, Seoni and Mandsaur) have that. The remaining airstrips, mostly receiving celestial arrivals at district headquarters, are shorter. The Beechcraft B250 could land on many of those, but as things stand—or fly—this is a deficit that has got to be set right now.

On cue, that work has begun. “We have started the process of upgrading and expanding the runways at 20 locations,” says Chandramauli Shukla, commissioner, civil aviation. The Centre’s regional connectivity scheme is proving handy here, he says, so it’s a matter of time before a breathless Bombardier can find many more pit-stops within MP. The expansion of 20 runways is expected to cost upwards of Rs 300 crore, counting land acquisition and compensation. Aviation experts suggest mere expansion of runways is not enough. These airports should ideally also have an Air Traffic Control to guide the jet. If safety is part of the listed virtues, it has to be properly secured.

The biggest argument in favour of the jet is that it would save the money being spent on leasing aircraft for VVIPs. Between January 2021 and November 2025, the state spent Rs 290 crore on that onerous job, per an answer in the Vidhan Sabha. Between January 2024 and November 2025, or in about two years, the state spent Rs 143 crore—Rs 71.5 crore per year—in leasing aircraft. “We will recover the cost of the aircraft in about 5 to 5.5 years through savings made by not leasing,” says the technical committee member. A rental for a jet is around Rs 6 lakh per hour; its operating cost, if self-owned, is half of that. Hence, austerity is proved.

The right kind of manpower is another issue. Captain Vishwas Rai, the MP government’s fixed-wing aircraft pilot, had to undergo training in the US for securing rating on the new aircraft. Sources say Rai was accompanied by another pilot, but they could not pass the rating test within the stipulated time. So, swadeshi will have to retreat for a bit—a foreign aircrew temporary authorisation (FATA) pilot will fly the aircraft for the first year as state pilots accompany as co-pilots for around 100 hours. The cost of the FATA pilot is part of the aircraft cost of Rs 250 crore, say civil aviation department sources. That’s more money saved.

AERIAL ASPIRATIONS

The quest for a swish set of wings doesn’t end at the Bombardier. Also on the way is an Airbus ACH 160 helicopter to replace the ageing chopper the MP government presently has. The civil aviation department says the new one will naturally be used for flying to destinations where the jet cannot land presently, till the time those runways are expanded. The state debt runs to Rs 5.44 lakh crore; it pays Rs 27,000 crore annually to service it. More earthy concerns, such as the Ladli Behna scheme, involve annual spends upwards of Rs 23,000 crore and have hit many other state schemes. In mid-July, following a call by the PM to curtail foreign trips and not buy gold, the state finance department put in place austerity measures aimed at controlling luxury spending by officers and ministers.

The jet, as a lean and mean flying machine, fits elegantly into that landscape of thrift.

- Ends