Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

In his first ever tour as the nation's new Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar has chosen to fly economy on a budget airline, shedding the multi-million dollar executive jet that he is entitled to use. Two days after taking over the top post, Parrikar left for Goa where he was Chief Minister before joining the Union Cabinet.

While the minister is to visit at least three defence installations, including the Goa Shipyard Ltd, he chose not to use the privilege given to all defence ministers to fly in the Embraer executive jet that is operated by the VVIP squadron of the air force.

Sources said that the minister, known for is simplicity, got a budget seat booked in an afternoon Indigo flight to Goa and will even use the same airline to fly back on Sunday evening. It is learnt that while ministry officials requested him to use the executive jet as is the norm, the austere minister conveyed that he was comfortable flying in economy.

Incidentally, Parrikar has not yet taken use of any of the courtesies extended to the Defence Minister, including additional security and facilitation of transport by the armed forces. "Some of the minister's engagements in Goa were of a political nature while others were visits to defence installations. That is perhaps why he choose to fly on an airline," a ministry official said.

In the past, ministers have invariably used the Embraer fleet for travel if any official work was involved. In fact, even ministers who are not entitled to the executive jet have 'borrowed' it from the defence ministry in the past for short trips abroad.

Meanwhile, in his first two days, Parrikar has established himself as a tough task master at South Block and has had a series of meetings and briefings with different sections of the ministry and the armed forces. In fact, the minister has firmly conveyed that he will maintain a 8 am to 8 pm working schedule and expects babus and other officials to do the same. In fact on Wednesday, he had an early morning briefing from the Coast Guard before catching the flight to Goa.