Lok Sabha Question No. 2698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Revival Plan for Airports and UDAN Scheme
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

(To be answered on the December 2018) 27th

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2698

## REVIVAL PLAN FOR AIRPORTS AND UDAN SCHEME

2698.

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has drawn any action for revival of unserved and under-served airports in the country, if S0, the program of action envisaged in this regard; plan
- (c) if so, the detaiis thereof and the success achieved so far in this regard;
- (b) whether the UDAN scheme announced in October 2016, seeks to connect unserved and under-served airports in the country as well as to make flying at affordable prices;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to announce International routes under UDAN, if sO, the details thereof;
- (f) the financial supporting system to the participating airlines under the scheme; and
- (e) whether the proposal has been finalised in this regard and the criteria for selecting the airlines has been fixed, if the details thereof; SO,
- (g) the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a) to (c): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN scheme on 21-10-2016 to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable 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 or VGF) 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

Further, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for revival of 50 existing un-served under-served airports airstrips of the State Governments, Airports Authority of India and Civil enclaves at an estimated cost of Rs. 4500 Crore; in three financial years starting from 201718. However, the revival of these unserved/underserved airports will be 'demand driven', depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as from the State Government for providing various concessions.

Flights have commenced from RCS airports namely: Adampur; Agra, Bhatinda, Bhavnagar, Bikaner, Diu, Gwalior; Kadapa; Jagdalpur; Jalgaon, Jamnagar; Jaisalmer, Jharsuguda, Kandla; Kanpur; Kolhapur; Ludhiana, Mundra, Mysuru; Nanded, Ozar(Nasik), Pathankot; Puducherry; Porbandar, Salem; Shimla, Shillong; Vidyanagar, Ailahabad, Hubli, Jorhat, Kishangarh, Pakyong and Tezpur:

(d) to (g): On request of State Government of Assam; UDAN-International has been launched. Bidding process for 6 routes connecting Guwahati to Kathmandu, Dhaka, Yangon; Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is over Implementing Agency is in the process 0f issuing letter of Award to the selected airlines as per the provisions of the Scheme Under the Scheme, the financial support is provided by the concerned State Government However; Government of India can facilitate the implementation of UDAN International Scheme on request of any State Governments

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