Question : Progress of Regional Connectivity Scheme

(a) the details of progress and achievements made by the regional air connectivity scheme by the Government till date;

(b) whether the Government proposes to commence a second phase of the regional connectivity scheme to augment air connectivity to remote locations in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any district in West Bengal has been developed or intended to be developed under the regional connectivity scheme till date in both phases and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of airports/airstrips included/proposed to be included under the scheme, State/UT-wise and the time by which flight operations would commence from such airports/airstrips; and

(e) the number of airports notified under the scheme that have started operations and the air operators active in each of these airports?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a): Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Implementing Agency has issued Letter of Award for 27 proposals of five Selected Airline Operators to operate from 43 RCS (12 under-served & 31 unserved) airports in first round of bidding under RCS-UDAN (Annexure-I). Out of 43 airports, air operations has been commenced from 14 under-served / unserved airports.;;

(b): Second round of bidding under RCS-UDAN has been commenced from 24.08.2017. The finalization of selection of bidders is underway.;

(c): Yes Madam, Kolkata - Cooch Behar - Kolkata - Jamshedpur - Kolkata - Rourkela - Kolkata - Andal (Durgapur) -Bagdogra -Durgapur - Kolkata -Burnpur - Kolkata proposal has been awarded to M/s Deccan Air for air operation under RCS-UDAN. In second round of bidding under RCS-UDAN following airports of West Bengal has been included for operations under RCS-UDAN:;
Burnpur, Cooch Behar, Ambari, Asansol, Balurghat, Barrackpore, Behrampur, Bhatpara, Bishnupur, Dhubalia, Digri, Dudhkundi, Grassmore, Guskhara, Hashimara, Kalaikunda, Kanchrapara, Kharagpur, Madhaiganj, Maheshganj, Malda, New lands, New Teli Para, Panagarh, Pandeveswar, Piardora, Prasadpur (Ganga Sagar), Rampur hat, Sal Bani, Saugaon.;

(d): The list of under-served airports included in the RCS-UDAN is attached at Annexure-I. The list of unserved airports included in the RCS-UDAN is attached at Annexure-II.;

(e): the status of commencement of operations of routes awarded in first round of bidding under RCS-UDAN is at Annexure-III