Question : Airports under UDAN Scheme

(a) the number of airports of the country connected under UDAN scheme till date along with the number of airports yet to be connected, State/UT-wise;

(b) the section of people likely to be benefited under the said scheme in the country including Karnataka;

(c) whether air fares have been fixed for the passengers under the UDAN scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to frame any rules and regulations to start regular operations on the air routes being introduced under the UDAN scheme, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to invite proposals from the States for this purpose, if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government proposes to extend the purview of the UDAN scheme for international destinations also and permit foreign flight operators under this scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(g) the steps taken by the Government for connecting smaller cities and North Eastern Region of the country under UDAN scheme and the funds allocated and utilised since the implementation of said scheme; and

(h) whether the Government has set any target to achieve under UDAN scheme, if so, the details thereof and connectivity provided to un-served and under-served airports of the country?

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

(a): The status of operation from airports awarded under first and second round of bidding of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN is at Annexure-I.;

(b): The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched RCS-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme for providing connectivity to unserved and under-served airports of the country. The primary objective of RCS is to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable for common people of the country.;

(c): Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will target an indicative airfare of Rs. 2500 per passenger approximately, indexed to inflation, for a significant part of the capacity of the aircraft for a distance of 500kms to 600 kms. on RCS routes (equivalent to about one hour of flight). The cap for helicopters under RCS will be higher. The scheme will offer a flexible menu of options to the interested scheduled airline operators.;

(d): As per para 3.15.4.1 of RCS Scheme document version 2.0, Performance Guarantee submitted by the Selected Airline Operator shall be liable to encashment as per the terms and conditions of the Selected Airline Operator Agreement, if the Selected Airline Operator fails to ensure integrity of the scheduled flights on routes proposed under the Selected Airline Operator Agreement, i.e. it fails to operate at least 70% of the scheduled flights on routes proposed under the Selected Airline Operator Agreement in a specified period;;

(e): No Madam.;

(f): Various states have approached the Government with plans to provide economic incentives for domestic operations to stimulate international flights from their state.

(g): Airports Authority of India, the Implementing Agency has conducted 2 rounds of bidding under RCS-UDAN and has awarded 27 proposals in first round of bidding uder RCS-UDAN and has awarded 88 proposals in second round of bidding under RCS-UDAN. The expenditure incurred for the development of unserved and underserved airports awarded in first and second round of bidding is at Annexure-II.;

(h): RCS-UDAN is a demand driven scheme where airline operators undertake assessment of demand on particular routes and bids under the Scheme from time to time. The Scheme is valid for a period of 10 years.