Lok Sabha Question No. 156 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-02
Subject: Achievements of RCS-UDAN
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dhanush M Kumar, C.N. Annadurai, Manjulata Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 156 (To be answered on the 2 nd  February 2023)

## ACHIEVEMENTS OF RCS-UDAN

156.

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI

SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme has successfully completed five years since its launch and if so, the challenges faced by the Government while implementing the scheme;
- (b) whether the Government has achieved the objective for which UDAN scheme was launched and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the present status of implementation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (d) the contribution of UDAN scheme in the overall growth of aviation sector;
- (e) whether the Government has set any target to achieve under the UDAN scheme for the next five years; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to achieve the target?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) to (f): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21.10.2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country and making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN.

Under the Scheme, 459 UDAN routes  involving 72 airports including nine heliports  and  two  water  aerodromes  have  been  operationalised  as  on 30.01.2023, across the length and breadth of the country. Over 1.13 crore passengers have travelled in more than 2.16 Lakh UDAN flights, so far. The linkage between the Civil Aviation Sector and Economic Growth is well recognized. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) study shows that  the  air  connectivity  would  have  economic  multipliers  of  3.1  and employment multiplier of 6.1. Challenges faced while implementing the scheme include:

- i) Adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic
2. ii)  Non-readiness of Civil Airports/Heliports, which could be related to availability of land, creation of regional infrastructure etc.
3. iii) Unsustainability of the operation on the awarded routes.
4. iv) Non-readiness of Selected Airlines Operators (SAOs)
- v) Non-availability of slots at metro airports like Mumbai & Pune.

Salem, Neyveli, Tanjore, Vellore and Ramnad Airports have been awarded in the State of Tamil Nadu for the operation of flights under UDAN. Operation of UDAN flights from Salem has already commenced.

The Government has planned to develop one hundred airports by 2024 to support UDAN scheme and operationalise 1000 UDAN routes during the currency of the Scheme. UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme.

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