**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to Unstarred Question No. 800 in Lok Sabha, concerning air accessibility under the UDAN scheme. The response provides details on the scheme's impact, the number of routes and airports added in Maharashtra, special incentives offered, and monitoring mechanisms. The question was slated to be answered on December 4th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UDAN Scheme Impact:**
* Over 3.27 lakh RCS flights have benefited more than 157 lakh passengers connecting various destinations across India, including Tier-II cities.
* **Maharashtra Expansion (2024-2025):**
* Amravati and Solapur airports have been developed and operationalized.
* 34 RCS routes have been operationalized, connecting various airports across the country, including those in tribal or backward districts.
* **Viability Gap Funding (VGF):**
* VGF support and various concessions are provided to incentivize Airline Operators participation and ensure affordability.
* Rs. 4,352 crore has been disbursed to support selected Airline Operators as of the date of the response.
* **Monitoring Mechanism:**
* The government monitors UDAN routes' utilization and performance through parameters like load factor, on-time performance, aircraft deployment, and service sustainability.
* Airports in tribal or remote districts, including those in Maharashtra, are regularly assessed. Routes meeting performance criteria continue to receive support.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Airline Operators**
* *Impact:* Benefit from VGF and incentives to participate in the UDAN scheme.
* *Action Required:* Maintain performance metrics to continue receiving support under the scheme.
* **Passengers**
* *Impact:* Improved air accessibility to Tier-II/III cities and remote/tribal regions, benefiting from RCS flights.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available routes and services to ensure their sustainability.
* **Maharashtra Airports**
* *Impact:* Inclusion in UDAN scheme improves connectivity and utilization of airport.
* *Action Required:* Maintain required standards of operational performance and meet the prescribed performance criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN): A scheme to enhance air accessibility in Tier-2/3 and remote regions by supporting flights and routes.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry responsible for overseeing the RCS-UDAN scheme and air accessibility.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support provided under the UDAN scheme to incentivise airline operators and ensure affordability in remote regions.
Maharashtra: A state where the UDAN scheme has been implemented with specified routes and airport additions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 800
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
AIR ACCESSIBILITY UNDER UDAN SCHEME
800. DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude
Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) has facilitated over 3.23 lakh flights and carried
more than 1.56 crore passengers in the nine years since its launch thereby enhancing
air accessibility in Tier-2/3 and remote regions and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of routes and airports added under UDAN in Maharashtra during
2024-25 and the number of routes and airports out of them located in tribal or
backward districts including those in Gondiya Lok Sabha Constituency;
(c) whether special incentives or Concessional Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is
offered for airports or air-strips in tribal or remote districts to attract operators and
ensure affordability; and
(d) the mechanism in place to monitor utilisation including load-factor andon-time
performance, service sustainability and the details of the tribal or remote airports
that meet performance benchmarks?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) and (b) : Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik
(RCS-UDAN), more than 157 lakh passengers, , have been benefited from the
operation of 3.27 lakh RCS flights connecting various destinations across the country
including Tier-II cities.During 2024-25, two airports namely Amravati and Solapur have been developed
and operationalised in Maharashtra. Also, during the period of January 2024 to
November 2025, 34 RCS routes have been operationalized in Maharashtra
connecting various airports across the country including those located in tribal or
backward districts.
(c) : Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and various concessions are provided
to Airline Operators to incentivise their participation and ensure affordability. As on
date, an amount of Rs. 4,352 crore has been disbursed to support the Selected Airline
Operators in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the scheme.
(d) : The Government monitors the utilisation and performance of UDAN routes
through parameters such as load factor, on-time performance, aircraft deployment,
and service sustainability, which are periodically reviewed through a structured
monitoring mechanism. Airports located in tribal or remote districts, including
operational UDAN airports in Maharashtra are regularly assessed and the routes
meeting the prescribed performance criteria continue to receive support to ensure
sustained and reliable regional air connectivity in such underserved regions.
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