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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched...

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched from around the sprawling parking lot, the helicopter appeared to drop speed in its flight, flew over some overhead high-tension electric cables, and descended gingerly into the parking lot - raising a thick dust-storm in which it disappeared for seconds - before touching the ground.   Moments later, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Bhujbal and others stepped out of the chopper, looked around in the unfamiliar territory before several vehicles and police teams rushed there. Minutes before there was chaos and confusion with some locals shouting warnings at the ‘wrong landing’.   Eyewitnesses said that the chopper’s powerful rotors created a thick dust storm and sparked alarm among the people in the vicinity, and many scrambled to the spot to check what exactly was going on in the parking lot.   Later, the Pune Police said that a designated helipad was available for the chopper landing but were at a loss to explain how the pilot missed it and veered off quite a distance away in the vehicle parking space. Subsequently, they asked the pilot to fly it to the correct landing spot.   Shaken and angry local NCP leaders questioned how a pilot flying a VIP on an official trip could mistake a parking lot for a helipad when the weather and visibility was clear. They demanded to know whether the helipad was improperly marked or it was a question of communication or sheer negligence.   The Pune Police indicated that they would report the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which may take action against the errant pilot and the helicopter company.   “There was no accident. We all emerged safely. The helicopter pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot because the helipad was not visible. All of us are fine and there is nothing to worry,” said Bhujbal, before he was whisked off by his security team.   “There are many faults in numerous airplanes and helicopters, including maintenance issues and other problems. That's why I keep saying consistently that VIPs must exercise caution while flying. Fortunately, an accident was averted today, but that doesn't mean the authorities should be negligent. We expect the government to take urgent precautions.” Rohit R. Pawar, MLA, NCP (SP)

Bold Promises

For her eighth consecutive budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman struck a populist tone, offering tax cuts, sectoral incentives and ambitious growth targets. Yet, as with all budgets, execution will determine whether these proposals translate into tangible gains. India has seen its share of grand announcements, only for bureaucratic inertia to stall their impact. This year must be different. The government must swiftly implement its pledges, ensuring they do not remain mere aspirations.


The budget’s most talked-about feature is the massive relief for taxpayers. The middle class, long grumbling about its tax burden, received a windfall with the tax rebate threshold was raised from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh. The highest tax rate of 30 percent now kicks in only after Rs 24 lakh. The move leaves more disposable income in the hands of consumers. The government is betting that this will spur consumption and private-sector investment, reigniting economic activity.


However, the gamble is not without risks. The Rs. 1 lakh crore in foregone tax revenue risks straining public finances even as the government targets a 4.4 percent fiscal deficit in 2025-26. The feasibility of achieving this target while expanding social-sector schemes remains to be seen. Much will depend on whether tax relief truly stimulates growth.


Beyond tax cuts, the budget focuses on self-reliance. The National Mission for Edible Oilseeds seeks to achieve independence in pulses over six years, targeting crops like tur, urad and masur dal. The move is pragmatic as India remains heavily dependent on imports for its oilseed requirements. A more resilient domestic supply chain will insulate the country from global price shocks. Yet success will depend on whether central agencies such as NAFED and NCCF efficiently procure and distribute produce, preventing the kind of bureaucratic bottlenecks that have hampered past agricultural reforms.


Politics, too, played its part. Bihar, which heads to the polls later this year, has received a generous allocation. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, a key NDA ally, finds itself largely ignored. The opposition has been quick to seize upon this, questioning whether fiscal policy is being used to reward electoral loyalty.


The budget signals a shift in capital expenditure, missing projections by Rs. 1 lakh crore. Despite historically high allocations, the slowdown is concerning, as infrastructure investment drives jobs and growth. The government must prevent this dip from stalling economic momentum.


There is, however, a welcome shift towards employment generation. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which previously favoured capital-intensive industries, is now supplemented by incentives for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather.


Looking ahead, much will hinge on how effectively these policies are implemented. India’s economic survey envisions 8 percent growth annually to achieve ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The finance minister’s task does not end with presenting a well-crafted budget. The government must now ensure that promises translate into real benefits. Delays in execution will mean lost opportunities, and India, poised for high growth, can ill afford them. Speed matters.

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