Question : RCS UDAN in Tamil Nadu

(a) the features of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and
utilized under this scheme during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu;

(c) the details and the number of routes operationalized including those connecting tourism places under this scheme so far across the country including Tamil Nadu;

(d) the details of their routes to provide connectivity to unserved, underserved and served airports under this scheme across the country including Tamil Nadu;

(e) the details and the number of districts benefited within Tamil Nadu under this scheme; and

(f) whether the Government has received any proposal from Tamil Nadu to include some more routes within Tamil Nadu as Tourism RCS under this scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a): The salient features of the scheme are as under:

i. The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) intends to enable air operations on unserved routes connecting regional areas, promote balanced regional growth and make flying affordable for masses. ;

ii. Financial incentives in terms of concessions from Central, State Governments and airport operators are extended to Selected Airline Operators to encourage operations from unserved/underserved airports/heliports/water aerodromes and to keep the air fare affordable.;

iii. Support to the Selected Airline Operators in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF). State Governments concerned provide 20% share towards VGF for RCS flights pertaining to their states. However, the share of VGF for North-Eastern states and the Union Territories is 10%.;

iv. Excise Duty at the rate of 2% is levied on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) drawn by Selected Airline Operators at RCS Airports for RCS Flights for a period of three (3) years from the date of commencement of RCS flight.;

v. The airlines are required to commit around 50% of the seats as RCS seats (limited to 40 seats) on RCS flights.;

vi. Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) is created by levying Rs.5000/- on each departure of flights on aircraft having MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight) above 40 Tonnes except for the departure of flights on routes in North East Region, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.;

vii. For balanced regional growth, route allocations are spread equitably across five regions in the country viz. North, South, East, West and North East (with a cap of 30% in a given region).;

viii. RCS-UDAN is a market driven mechanism. Development of regional air connectivity routes is left to market forces.The interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes submit proposals at the time of bidding under RCS - UDAN from time to time.;

(b): Any airport, which is included in the awarded routes of UDAN, is developed under "Revival of unserved and underserved airports" Scheme. Details of the expenditure under this scheme for up-gradation/development of RCS airports / helipads & water aerodromes are attached as Annexure-A. ;
;
(c): Details of the operationalized RCS/Tourism RCS routes under UDAN so far are attached as Annexure-B.;
;
(d) to (f): Details of the routes/networks across the country including Tamil Nadu awarded under RCS-UDAN are at Annexure-C. Under RCS - UDAN, 46 Tourism routes across the country have been awarded on the request of Ministry of Tourism.