Flying To The Last Mile: UDAN 5.2 Launched To Bolster Air Connectivity In Remote Areas

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday (25 July) launched the UDAN 5.2 to further bolster regional air connectivity.

Scindia launched the UDAN 5.2 scheme at the Heli Summit 2023 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

The summit was jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Ltd, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). 

UDAN 5.2 has been launched for further enhancing the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country and achieving last-mile connectivity through small aircraft such as 1A (<9 seats) and Category 1(<20 seats), the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

Speaking on the occasion, Scindia said, "“The country's civil aviation sector has been democratised in the last nine years. Along with the number of airports, there has been a vast expansion in the number of aircraft and the market size. And in this expansion big metro airports and large airlines, are as important as small town airports, small airlines and helicopters".

“Today we have launched UDAN 5.2 for helicopters and under this we have increased the VGF and reduced the fare cap. Along with this, we have also started single window service platform of HeliSewa. Through this, you will be able to get all the approvals from ATC on your mobile," he said.

"We have also started UDAN 5.2 for small aircraft. Today we have awarded 22 routes, which underlines the fact that air travel facility is being made available to citizens living in remote areas, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.