Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi used a helicopter and aircraft for 119 trips between July 2024 and October 2025, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by social activist Prakash Das.
The RTI-based information reportedly shows that helicopters were used for 64 trips, while aircraft were used on 55 occasions during the period. The journeys covered various districts of Odisha as well as destinations outside the state. According to the information, Keonjhar (Kendujhar), his home district, accounted for the highest number of helicopter trips.
The data also indicates that helicopters were used for travel to relatively nearby destinations such as Cuttack (Kataka), Puri and Jagatsinghpur from Bhubaneswar. The use of air travel for such journeys has raised questions over the administrative necessity and expenditure involved.
However, helicopter and aircraft use by the Chief Minister can be justified in situations involving official programmes, urgent administrative assignments, disaster management or where significant time savings are required.
Das has sought greater transparency over the expenditure incurred on the 119 trips and urged the state government to make public the total amount spent from the exchequer between July 2024 and October 2025.
He has also questioned the administrative and financial rationale behind helicopter journeys to nearby destinations and urged the government to explain the necessity of such travel.
Das appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that helicopters and aircraft are used primarily for necessary and urgent official engagements so that unnecessary financial burden is not placed on the state exchequer.
He further called for the government to publish a complete account of expenditure incurred on the 119 trips and provide details explaining the need for helicopter travel to nearby places.
“Government money is public money. Therefore, people have the right to know why and how much is being spent,” Das said, stressing that his questions were not aimed at opposing the Chief Minister’s travel but at ensuring responsible, rational and accountable use of public funds.
He said the Chief Minister’s efforts to meet people, hear their grievances and address their problems were welcome, but fiscal restraint and accountability in the use of public money were equally important.
Das particularly sought clarification on the necessity and expenditure involved in helicopter travel from Bhubaneswar to nearby places such as Kataka.
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