(a) whether the Government has achieved its target as envisaged under the UDAN or the Regional Connectivity Scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the progress so far and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the number of flyers registered under UDAN scheme since its launch?
The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)
(a) & (b) Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN scheme on 21-10-2016 to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. Promoting affordability of regional air connectivity is envisioned under RCS by supporting airline operators through (i) concessions by Central Government, State Governments and airport operators to reduce the cost of airline operations on regional routes and (ii) financial support (Viability Gap Funding) to meet the gap,if any, between the cost of airline operations and expected revenues on regional routes. The interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes submit proposals at the time of bidding under RCS from time to time.;
;
Under RCS-UDAN version 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, 106 airports/waterdromes (76 Unserved, 20 Underserved and 10 waterdromes) and 31 heliports have been awarded. Out of these, 39 RCS Airports (16 underserved & 23 unserved) have been revived/developed for operationalization of RCS flights. The list of these airports is at Annexure A.The list of airports/waterdromes and heliports alongwith timelines for their operationalization are at Annexure B and C.
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(c) More than 20 lakhs passengers have flown on RCS flights under UDAN so far.