Syllabus:
GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Context: Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has celebrated the 9th anniversary of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik).
More on the News
- The government reaffirmed its commitment to extend the scheme beyond April 2027 under an Expanded UDAN Framework.
- The upcoming phase will emphasize improved connectivity in hilly, North-Eastern, and aspirational districts, with plans to develop around 120 new destinations.
- The government has committed to developing 50 new airports over the next five years which includes new greenfield airports in Bihar, expansion of Patna Airport, and development of a brownfield airport at Bihta to meet future demand and support regional growth.
UDAN Scheme
- Origin: The UDAN initiative was launched on 21st October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) , with a ten-year vision to connect Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through a market-driven model backed by government support.
- Objective: To make regional air travel affordable, accessible, and widespread, bridging the gap between urban and remote regions.
- The first UDAN flight on 27th April 2017 between Shimla and Delhi marked a new era in regional aviation connectivity.
• Key Features
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial assistance provided to airlines to offset operational costs and maintain low airfares.
- Airfare Cap: A ceiling on ticket prices ensures affordability for passengers on regional routes.
- Collaborative Governance: The scheme functions through joint coordination among the Central and State Governments, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and private operators to achieve seamless implementation and monitoring.
Achievements
• Democratizing Air travel: The scheme has successfully operationalised 649 routes, connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, along with 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
- This has facilitated air travel for 1.56 crore passengers through 3.23 lakh flights over a span of nine years.
• Financial Assistance: The government has disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding to support airline operations and regional infrastructure development.
- The AAI exempts Terminal Navigation Landing Charges (TNLC) and applies discounted Route Navigation and Facilitation Charges (RNFC) for RCS flights.
• Expansion of Services: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced Comprehensive Guidelines for Seaplane Operations and launched UDAN 5.5, a dedicated bidding round for seaplane and helicopter services.
- Under UDAN 5.5, the government has issued Letters of Intent for 150 routes, connecting 30 water aerodromes across various coastal and island regions.
• Various initiatives under UDAN Scheme:
- Krishi UDAN: It aims to boost the air transportation of agricultural produce by making air cargo more affordable and accessible for farmers.
- UDAN Yatri Cafes: launched at Kolkata and Chennai airports to offer affordable food options to travellers.
- Lifeline UDAN: This special initiative was launched in March 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown to ensure uninterrupted medical and essential supply deliveries.