Lok Sabha Question No. 3511 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-10
Subject: UDAN Scheme in Jharkhand
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3511 (To be answered on the 10 th  August 2023)

## UDAN SCHEME IN JHARKHAND

## 3511. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (a) the salient features of UDAN Scheme;
- (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised so far under the
- said scheme in Jharkhand;
- (c) the details of the number of places connected so far under this scheme in Jharkhand;
- (d) whether the Government has sanctioned new routes under the fourth
- phase of this scheme in Jharkhand; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  targets fixed under this scheme for
- Jharkhand?

## 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

be pleased to state:- 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):  For the state of Jharkhand, an amount of Rs.105.51 crore has been allocated and Rs 102.93 crore has been spent for the development of airports under UDAN as on 31.03.2023.

(c) to (e): In the state of Jharkhand, Jamshedpur and Deoghar have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme connecting the following 08 RCS routes -:

1. Deoghar-Kolkata
2. Kolkata-Deoghar
3. Kolkata-Jamshedpur
4. Jamshedpur-Kolkata
5. Deoghar-Patna
6. Patna-Deoghar
7. Deoghar-Ranchi
8. Ranchi-Deoghar.
9. *****