MP CM to travel in business jet from August:Bombardier Challenger can fly non-stop from Bhopal to Tokyo; know its features

The Madhya Pradesh government is set to add a Canadian-built Bombardier Challenger 3500 business jet to its aviation fleet in August. Costing ₹235 crore, the aircraft is considered more advanced than the Challenger 650 operated by the Gujarat government. Two pilots will travel to the United States in the last week of July for training to operate the jet. All mandatory formalities required by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for bringing the aircraft from Canada to India have been completed. At present, the state government has only one helicopter in its fleet. Over the past five years, it has spent ₹290 crore on chartered aircraft for VIP travel. Why did the government have to buy a new aircraft? The state government’s Beechcraft King Air B-200GT aircraft was damaged in an accident at Gwalior Airbase in May 2021 while transporting Remdesivir medicines during the COVID-19 period. Since then, Madhya Pradesh has not had a functional fixed-wing aircraft in its fleet. The Beechcraft had been purchased by the then Kamal Nath government for ₹62 crore. ₹290 crore spent on chartered aircraft in four-and-a-half years In the absence of its own aircraft, the government had to hire charter planes and helicopters for the travel of the Chief Minister, Governor and other VIPs. The government informed the Assembly that between January 2021 and November 2025, it spent ₹290 crore on chartered aviation services. During Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav’s tenure, an average of ₹21 lakh per day has been spent on rented aircraft. With Madhya Pradesh’s debt having reached ₹4.64 lakh crore and annual interest payments standing at ₹27,000 crore, the government decided to procure a new business jet to reduce recurring expenditure on charter services. How Bombardier Challenger 3500 was selected? The procurement process for a new aircraft began around two years ago. In the initial stage, Textron submitted a proposal worth ₹145 crore, but the process was cancelled after the price was revised upwards to ₹208 crore. On July 10, 2024, the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, approved the purchase of the Bombardier Challenger 3500. Technical and financial procedures moved forward in September 2024, and after completion of all formalities, the aircraft is scheduled to join the state fleet in August 2026. Business jet can fly directly from Bhopal to Tokyo This Canada-manufactured super-mid size business jet is equipped with long range, modern technology and premium facilities. Where can the aircraft operate? The business jet requires a runway of at least 5,500 feet in length, which means it cannot operate from all airstrips in Madhya Pradesh. Airports and airstrips where operations are possible: Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Khajuraho airports, along with the airstrips at Datia, Seoni, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Chhindwara, Rewa, Satna and Mandla. Airstrips where operations are not possible: Due to inadequate runway length, the aircraft cannot operate from Ujjain, Guna, Khargone, Nagda, Ratlam, Khandwa, Sagar, Sidhi, Maihar and Tekanpur airstrips.