Lok Sabha Question No. 870 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Routes under UDAN
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri K Gopinath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 870

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24th July 2025 )

## ROUTES UNDER UDAN

## 870.    SHRI K GOPINATH

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  details  of  the  routes  under  the  UDAN  scheme  that  remain underserved/unserved by private airlines despite funds being sanctioned for their implementation along with the funds sanctioned and utilized so far, State-wise;
- (b) the timeline set for achieving the targets under the said scheme and the progress made so far in terms of operational routes;
- (c) the mechanisms in place to evaluate the operational challenges faced by private airlines on UDAN routes and the steps taken by the
- Government to address the said challenges; and
- (d)  the  measures being taken to ensure that the scheme achieves its core objective of providing equitable air connectivity to underserved regions while preventing airlines from prioritizing only commercially profitable routes?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a): State-wise details of non-operational Airports and routes

therefrom under RCS is attached at Annexure.

- (b) The Government launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) on 21.10.2016 for a period of 10 years.  637  RCS  routes  connecting  92  unserved  and  underserved airports (including 15 heliports & 02 water aerodromes) have been operationalised under the Scheme, as on 15.07.2025.

(c):  To  identify  operational  challenges,  the  Government  conducts periodic reviews with all stakeholders including the airlines. There are various operational challenges, including low passenger demand on some routes, low visibility at certain airports, challenges related the To overcome  these  issues  the  Government  is  increasingly  adopting RNP  procedures  and coordinates  with  airports.  To  ensure  the  timely  development  and operationalisation  of  aerodromes,  the  relevant  State  Governments high-potential aerodromes. Further, airlines  have  been  asked  to  submit  business to the availability of slots, ATC  watch  hours,  delays in development of aerodromes, and a shortage of aircraft. technologies like Special VFR, IFR and have been requested to identify and prioritize plans for timely operationalisation, before the award of the route. (d): RCS - UDAN is a market-driven scheme that envisages providing connectivity  to  unserved  and  underserved  airports  of  the  country through  a  demand-based  transparent  bidding  process.  Only  routes that connect an unserved or underserved aerodrome are eligible to be awarded under the Scheme. To ensure equitable air connectivity, the scheme ensures that the routes are not awarded

disproportionately to any region or operator.

******

## Annexure

## Details of presently Non-Operational Airports developed under RCS

|   S.N. | State             | Airport    |   Expenditure Incurred in Rs. Crores | RCS Routes to be operationalized / restarted   | Remarks                                                                                                      |
|--------|-------------------|------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Arunachal Pradesh | Pasighat   |                                 0.07 | Jorhat, Shillong                               |                                                                                                              |
|      2 | Gujarat           | Bhavnagar  |                                69.18 | Pune                                           |                                                                                                              |
|      3 | Punjab            | Pathankot  |                                 5.18 | Nil                                            | No awarded routes available.                                                                                 |
|      4 | Rajasthan         | Jaisalmer  |                                10.34 | Nil                                            | No awarded routes available.                                                                                 |
|      5 | Sikkim            | Pakyong    |                               178.75 | Nil                                            | No awarded routes available.                                                                                 |
|      6 | Uttar Pradesh     | Kushinagar |                               108.22 | Saharanpur                                     | RCS route connecting Kushinagar to Saharanpur awarded to Spicejet with Q400 type of aircraft.                |
|      7 | Uttar Pradesh     | Aligarh    |                                31.94 | Lucknow, Kanpur, Hindon Khajuraho Lucknow,     | All routes connecting to Lucknow have been suspended due to the ongoing runway re- carpeting at the airport. |
|      8 | Uttar Pradesh     | Azamgarh   |                                29.57 | Lucknow                                        | All routes connecting to Lucknow have been suspended due to the ongoing runway re- carpeting at the airport. |
|      9 | Uttar Pradesh     | Chitrakoot |                                32.79 | Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi,          | All routes connecting to Lucknow have been suspended due to the ongoing runway re- carpeting at the airport. |
|     10 | Uttar Pradesh     | Shravasti  |                                32.84 | Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi                    | All routes connecting to Lucknow have been suspended due to the ongoing runway re- carpeting at the airport. |
|     11 | Uttar Pradesh     | Moradabad  |                                30.41 | Lucknow, Kanpur, Hindon, Saharanpur, Dehradun  | All routes connecting to Lucknow have been suspended due to the ongoing runway re- carpeting at the airport. |