Lok Sabha Question No. 3201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: RCS-UDAN
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3201 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  21st December 2023 )

## RCS-UDAN

## 3201.    SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- a) the salient feature of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)';
2. (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under the said scheme in Rajasthan so far;
3. (c)  the  details  of  the  number  of  States  across  the  country  being covered under the said scheme at present;
4. (d) the details of the targets set and the achievements made so far
5. under the said scheme; and
6. (e) whether the Government proposes to start some more flights in the country under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a) Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21.10.2016 to stimulate regional  air  connectivity  and  make  air  travel  affordable  for  the masses.  The  UDAN  scheme  envisages  providing  connectivity  to unserved and underserved airports of the country through revival of the existing airstrips and airports. The scheme would be in operation for a period of ten years. The salient features of the UDAN scheme
- are as under:
- i) The Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN is designed to enable air operations  on  underserved/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) Financial Support to the Selected Airline Operators is in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF). State Governments provide 20% share towards VGF for RCS flights pertaining to their States. 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. v) Airlines are required to commit certain number of the seats as RCS seats, depending on the type and size of aircraft on RCS flights. vi)  Regional  Connectivity  Fund  (RCF)  is  created  by  a  levy  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) RCS-UDAN is a market driven scheme. Based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, interested airlines submit proposals at the time of bidding under RCS-UDAN. (b)  The  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned,  allocated  and  utilised  for revival of aerodromes identified under the UDAN scheme in Rajasthan is in Annexure. (c): 32 States/UTs are being covered under the scheme. (d): The Government has set a target to operationalised 1000 UDAN

routes during the currency of the scheme.

Out of 799 valid routes awarded, 517 routes commenced under the UDAN scheme. More than 131 lakhs passengers benefited from the UDAN flights so far. 76 unserved/underserved airports have been operationalized including 2 Water Aerodromes & 9 Heliports commenced under the UDAN scheme. (e):  Routes  under  UDAN  Round  5.0  have  recently  been  awarded. Award of Routes under UDAN Round 5.1 for helicopters and UDAN Round 5.2 for small aircraft, is presently underway.

- ******

Scheme for Revival of Underserved/Unserved Airports in Rajasthan Annexure

| S. No.   | Airport       | Sanctioned -Rs in Cr.   | Total Expenditure till 14.11.2023   |
|----------|---------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Bikaner       | 12.18                   | 11.08                               |
| 2.       | Jaisalmer     | 8.69                    | 6.03                                |
| 3.       | Kota          | 0.55                    | 0.88                                |
| 4.       | Kishangarh    | 25.29                   | 20.04                               |
| 5.       | Sriganganagar | 45.00                   | -                                   |
| 6.       | Uterlai       | -                       | 0.01                                |
|          | Total         | 91.72                   | 38.04                               |