Lok Sabha Question No. 270 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: RCS - UDAN in Rajasthan
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. : 270

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  7th August 2025 )

## RCS-UDAN IN RAJASTHAN

## 270.    SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the salient features of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN and the manner in which Rajasthan has benefitted from it so far;
- (b)  whether  it  is  true  that  the  Indian  Air  Force's  Airport  at  Uttarlai  in  Barmer  is  being connected  to  civil  aviation  services  and  if  so,  the  current  status  thereof  along  with  the concrete steps taken so far by the Union and State Governments to expedite the said project;
- (c) whether the Government has received complaints/suggestions from the public under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to connect Barmer district under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the progress made so far in this regard and expected timeline fixed for completion of the said work; and
- (e) the details of annual report regarding operations at Jaisalmer airport?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (E)  IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 270 FOR REPLY ON 07.08.2025  REGARDING "RCS-UDAN IN RAJASTHAN" ASKED BY SHRI  UMMEDA  RAM  BENIWAL    (a):  The  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCSUDAN) on 21st October 2016 to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable. The scheme focuses on connecting unserved and underserved airports through revival and upgradation of existing infrastructure. RCS-UDAN is  a  market-driven  scheme,  with  airlines  bidding  for  routes  based  on  demand assessment.  Selected  airline  operators  receive  financial  incentives,  including Viability Gap Funding, reduced VAT and excise duty on ATF, and operational concessions. Airports requiring upgradation for awarded routes are developed under the 'Revival of Unserved and Underserved Airports' scheme. In the State of Rajasthan, three airports namely Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Kishangarh and 56 Routes connecting these airports have been operationalised under the Scheme till date.;  (b): Uttarlai Airport, owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been identified  for  development  under  the  UDAN  scheme.  Routes  connecting Uttarlai to Jaipur have been awarded to M/s FlyBig for operation of 19 seater aircraft.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed to establish a civil enclave  at  Uttarlai  Airport  using  its  internal  resources.  Commencement  of flights  under  UDAN  by  the  Selected  Airline  Operator  (SAO)  is  subject  to readiness  of  the  airport  for  operations.;    (c):  The  Government  has  received feedback  from  both  airlines  and  passengers  regarding  the  challenges  faced  in implementing  the  UDAN  Scheme.  Some  of  the  highlighted  concerns  are:  i) Challenges  in  last-mile  connectivity  from  the  city  centre  to  the  airport  ii) Occasional  flight  diversions/cancellations  due  to  weather  at  VFR  airports  iii) Discontinuation of routes after completion of VGF tenure iv) Occasional high ticket fares of non-RCS seats.;  The Government has taken steps to address the challenges which include continuous coordination with States/UTs for last-mile connectivity to airports, wider adoption of technologies such as Special Visual Flight  Rules  (VFR),  Instrument  Flight  Rules  (IFR)  etc  at  feasible  airports,  to mitigate  weather-related  constraints,  rebidding  of  before-term  dis-continued RCS  routes  and  continuous  engagement  with  stakeholders  to  improve  the scheme's  effectiveness.  Based  on  the  success  and  learning  from  the  existing Scheme,  the  Government  has  announced  the  launch  of  the  modified  UDAN Scheme to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations in the next 10 years.  The  scheme  will  also  support  helipads  and  smaller  airports  in  hilly, aspirational  and  North  East  region  districts.;    (d)  &  (e):  UDAN  is  a  demanddriven  scheme  wherein  bidding  rounds  are  conducted  periodically  to  expand connectivity. Airline operators assess the feasibility of operations on a particular route and bid under the scheme. Valid bids received from airlines are awarded for operationalisation under the Scheme, on readiness of the airport. As per the provisional data received by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a total  of  1,16,702  passengers  were  carried  to  and  from  Jaisalmer  Airport  by schedule Indian airlines on domestic operations during the Financial Year 202425.

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