UDAN Scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation completes 5 years of success


azadi ka amrit mahotsav

Ministry of Civil Aviation’s flagship program Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) has completed 5 years of success since the launch of it first flight by  Prime Minister on 27th April 2017. The scheme was initiatedon 21st October 2016 with the objective to fulfil the aspirations of the common citizen by following the vision of ‘UdeDeshkaAamNagrik’, with an enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities.

In the last five years, UDAN has significantly increased the regional air-connectivity in the country. There were 74 operational airports in 2014. Because of the UDAN scheme this number has increased to 141 by now.

68 underserved/unserved destinations which include 58 Airports, 8 Heliports & 2 Water Aerodromes have been connected under UDAN scheme. With 425 new routes initiated under the scheme, UDAN has provided air connectivity to more than 29 States/ UTs across the length and breadth of the country. More than one crore passengers have availed the benefits of this scheme as on 4th August 2022. The scheme has also provided a much-needed platform to the regional carriers to scale up their operations.

UDAN - Wikipedia

220 destinations (airports/heliports/water aerodromes) under UDAN are targeted to be completed by 2026 with 1000 routes to provide air connectivity to unconnected destinations in the country.Under UDAN, 954 routes have already been awarded to connect 156airports.

On the occasion, Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said,“The Success of RCS UDAN is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to  Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik’. It has played a great role in the transformation of Indian aviation industry. So far under this scheme, we have 425 routes aiming to go up to 1000 routes, 68 new airports aiming to touch 100 airports. In next 4 years we are expecting 40 crore travelers through Civil Aviation in India. That day is not far when along with rail transport and road transport Civil Aviation will become the bulwark of the transportation in India.”

RCS-UDAN was formulated based on the review of The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016 and it was planned to remain in force for a period of 10 years. It has a self-financing mechanism with the development of Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF). Under this Scheme, RCF was created, which funds the VGF requirements of the scheme through a levy on certain domestic flights. This way, funds generated from the sector themselves stimulate the growth and development of the sector.

UDAN Scheme has benefitted a diverse set of stakeholders. Passengers have got the benefits of air connectivity, airlines have received concessions for operating regional routes, unserved regions have received the direct and indirect benefits of air connectivity for their economic development.

UDAN created a framework based on the need and led to the formulation of:

  • Lifeline UDAN (for transportation of medical cargo during pandemic).
  • Krishi UDAN (value realization of agriculture products especially in Northeastern Region {NER} and tribal districts).
  • International UDAN routes for NER to explore International Connectivity from / to Guwahati and Imphal.

Lifeline UDAN – Lifeline UDAN initiative commenced in March 2020 during COVID-19 period and it helped to operate 588 flights transporting almost 1000 Tonnes of voluminous cargo and essential medical services to various parts of the country.

RCS-UDAN was awarded Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration under Innovation Category for the year 2020.  Republic Day Tableau for 26th January 2022 on UDAN was adjudged as the Best Tableau by the Ministry of Defence.

(State wise detail of RCS Routes & Airports operationalized under UDAN is given in the Annexure-A)

Annexure-A

State wise details of RCS Routes & Airports operationalized under UDAN

S. No.

State

RCS Routes

RCS airports

  1.  

Andaman & Nicobar Island (UT)

NIL

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Andhra Pradesh

26

02

Kadapa, Kurnool

  1.  

Arunachal Pradesh

04

02

Tezu, Passighat

  1.  

Assam

30

04

Jorhat, Lilabari, Tezpur, Rupsi

  1.  

Bihar

11

01

Darbhanga

  1.  

Chandigarh

06

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Chhattisgarh

12

02

Bilaspur, Jagdalpur

  1.  

Daman & Diu (UT)

02

01

Diu

  1.  

Delhi (UT)

35

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Goa

06

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Gujarat

53

08

Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kandla, Keshod, Mundra, Porbandar, Statue of Unity (WA), Sabarmati River Front (WA)

  1.  

Haryana

06

01

Hissar

  1.  

Himachal Pradesh

20

04

Shimla, Kullu, Mandi (H), Rampur (H)

  1.  

Jammu & Kashmir

04

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Jharkhand

01

01

Deoghar

  1.  

Karnataka

90

06

Belgaum, Hubli, Mysore, Vidyanagar, Kalaburgi, Bidar

  1.  

Kerala

18

01

Kannur

  1.  

Ladakh (UT)

NIL

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Lakshadweep (UT)

NIL

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Madhya Pradesh

29

01

Gwalior

  1.  

Maharashtra

65

06

Gondia,Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Nanded, Nasik, Sindhudurg

  1.  

Manipur

06

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Meghalaya

14

01

Shillong

  1.  

Mizoram

02

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Nagaland

08

01

Dimapur

  1.  

Odisha

18

01

Jharsuguda

  1.  

Puducherry (UT)

02

01

Puducherry

  1.  

Punjab

20

04

Adampur, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Pathankot

  1.  

Rajasthan

38

03

Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh

  1.  

Sikkim

06

01

Pakyong

  1.  

Tamil Nadu

14

01

Salem

  1.  

Telangana

40

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Tripura

06

NIL

NIL

  1.  

Uttar Pradesh

63

06

Agra, Kanpur, Hindon, Bareilly, Kushinagar, Prayagraj

  1.  

Uttarakhand

24

08

Pantnagar, Pithoragarh, Sahastradhara (H), Chinyalisaur (H), New Tehri (H), Gaucher (H), Srinagar (H), Haldwani (H)

  1.  

West Bengal

24

01

Durgapur

 

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YB/DNS



Source PIB