IANS

Mumbai, Aug 30: With a fat budget of over Rs.120 billion, the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to acquire helicopters to facilitate rescue operations at the time of disasters.

Mayor Shubha Raul has written a letter to Municipal Commissioner Jayraj Pathak to look into the feasibility of purchasing the choppers, according to sources.

Being one of the biggest civic bodies of Asia, it won't be difficult for the BMC to purchase the flying machines.

In the letter, Raul has explained that at times it is difficult to reach the site of a disaster with the minimum possible time. "In such cases, choppers would prove handy."

In fact, the city's civic administration depends on the Navy and the Coast Guard at the time of disasters.

On July 26, 2005 when several parts of the city were marooned by heavy monsoon showers, the Navy came to the rescue of citizens.

Meanwhile, for the immersion of Ganpati idols in the sea, the mayor and the commissioner are planning to take a chopper ride over Mumbai to oversee the process.

For this, however, the civic administration is looking for sponsors.