(a) whether the Government proposes to launch flights to important religious places from different parts of the country under UDAN scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of steps taken by the Government to provide air connectivity to important religious places particularly from Maharashtra State?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))
(a) & (b): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21-10-2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country and making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Implementing Agency, has awarded 948 valid routes involving 154 airports which include the places of tourism and religious importance. Out of 948 routes, 409 routes have been operationalized involving 66 destinations as on 21.03.2022 across the country.
(c): Under the UDAN scheme, AAI has awarded 105 routes involving unserved & underserved airports/airstrips namely Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Sholapur, Nasik, Nanded, Amravati, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Gondia in the state of Maharashtra to operate RCS flights. As on 21.03.2022, out of the105 UDAN routes, 59 routes have been operationalized.
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