Empowering Regional Connectivity: Over 123 Lakh Domestic Passengers Benefit From UDAN Scheme

According to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen V K Singh (Retd), over 123 lakh domestic passengers have travelled on Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) flights since the scheme's inception in October 2016.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) — UDAN scheme has recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.

The UDAN scheme aims to meet the aspirations of the common citizen by improving aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities.

To revive and develop 100 unserved and under-served airports, helipads, and water aerodromes by 2024, the government has approved the 'revival of unserved and under-served airports' scheme.

Bidding rounds are conducted periodically as part of an ongoing scheme to expand coverage to more destinations, stations and routes.

To date, a total of 148 airports, including nine heliports and two water aerodromes, have been developed and made operational.

Under the UDAN scheme, passengers have received the benefit of air connectivity, airlines have received concessions for operating regional routes, and unserved regions have received the direct and indirect benefits of air connectivity for their economic development.

The present version of the scheme will be another step towards the Prime Minister's vision of allowing the common man to travel by air at affordable fares to remote destinations of the country.

Factors For Delay

According to the minister, several factors contribute to the delay in the development and revival of airports, heliports, and water aerodromes under UDAN. These include:

• The inability of the state government to make land available on time

• New entrants take a longer time in getting schedule commuter operator permits as they are not able to fulfil the requirements in time

• Clearances with respect to coastal regulation zone (CRZ) and environmental clearances

• Non-availability of suitable aircraft

• Leasing issues of aircraft, long lead time for delivery of small aircraft, difficulties in procuring spares from abroad

• Airports, heliports and water aerodromes under the state government or UT/PSU are sometimes not ready in time.

List Of Operational Airports