Executive Summary:
The document presents the status of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme as of August 21, 2025. It details the number of operationalized airports, routes, and airlines involved, as well as the passenger numbers since the scheme's inception. It also addresses the potential for commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport to specific destinations.
Key Points / Main Content:
UDAN Scheme Overview:
* 637 routes have been operationalized under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
* These routes connect 92 unserved and underserved airports, 15 heliports, and 2 water aerodromes.
* Currently, 10 airlines are operating under the scheme.
* Over 3.1 lakh flights have taken place under the scheme to date.
Sarsawa Airport Development:
* Saharanpur Sarsawa Airport has been developed as a civil enclave under the UDAN scheme with an expenditure of Rs. 46.86 Crore.
* The airport is ready for commercial flight operations.
* A route connecting Sarsawa to Varanasi has been awarded to SpiceJet, utilizing 78-seater aircraft.
* Flights from Sarsawa to Prayagraj and Lucknow will be considered in future rounds of bidding, if valid bids are submitted.
Passenger Statistics:
* Year-wise passenger data is provided in Annexure II, detailing the total number of passengers who have travelled under the UDAN scheme since its inception.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing and managing the UDAN scheme, including airport development and route allocation.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor the progress of the scheme, address any challenges in operationalizing routes, and consider new bids for routes from Sarsawa Airport.
Airlines:
* Impact: Involved in operating flights under the UDAN scheme, connecting underserved regions.
* Action Required: Continue operating existing routes, explore opportunities to bid for new routes (including those from Sarsawa to Prayagraj and Lucknow), and ensure compliance with scheme guidelines.
Airport Authority of India/Indian Air Force (for Sarsawa Airport):
* Impact: Responsible for managing and maintaining airport infrastructure.
* Action Required: Ensure readiness of Sarsawa Airport for commercial operations and coordinate with airlines for smooth flight operations.
Passengers:
* Impact: Beneficiaries of the UDAN scheme through improved connectivity and affordable air travel.
* Action Required: Utilize the available flight services and provide feedback to improve the scheme's effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN Scheme: A regional airport development scheme of the Government of India, also known as Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN)
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Sarsawa Airport: Also known as Saharanpur Sarsawa Airport, is owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Uttar Pradesh, identified for establishing a civil enclave under the UDAN scheme.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: The capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, mentioned as a potential destination for commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport under the UDAN scheme.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: A city in Uttar Pradesh, mentioned as a destination for commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport, with a route awarded to SpiceJet under the UDAN scheme.
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A city in Uttar Pradesh, mentioned as a potential destination for commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport under the UDAN scheme.
SpiceJet: An Indian low-cost airline, awarded a route connecting Sarsawa to Varanasi under the UDAN scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4651
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
FUNCTIONAL AIRPORTS UNDER UDAN SCHEME
4651. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the total number of airports that have been made functional under the UDAN Scheme
since its inception along with the details of their locations;
(b) the number of commercial flights currently operating from these functional airports under
the UDAN Scheme along with the number of routes and the airlines involved;
(c) whether commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport to Lucknow, Varanasi and Prayagraj
have been planned or approved under the said Scheme;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the expected timeline fixed for the commencement of
commercial flights from Sarsawa Airport to these destinations and if not, the reasons therefor
along with the steps being taken to initiate such services; and
(e) the total number of passengers who have travelled under the UDAN scheme since its
inception, year-wise?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) & (b) : Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-
UDAN), 637 routes have been operationalised, connecting 92 unserved and underserved
airports, along with 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes across the country (list at Annexure-
I). At present, 10 airlines are operating under the Scheme and over 3.1 lakh flights have taken
place till date.
(c) & (d) : During the third round of bidding under the UDAN scheme, Saharanpur (Sarsawa)
Airport, owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF), was identified for establishing a civil enclave
and for operation of RCS flights. The airport has been developed with an expenditure of Rs.
46.86 Crore under the UDAN scheme and is ready for the commencement of commercial
flight operations.
RCS route connecting Saraswa to Varanasi has been awarded to SpiceJet for operations using
78-seater aircraft.
In case, any airline submits valid bid for operation of RCS flights from Saraswa to Prayagraj
and Lucknow in future rounds, the same will be considered as per UDAN Scheme provisions.
(e) : The details of total number of passengers travelled under the UDAN scheme, year-wise,
is at Annexure- II.
******Annexure- I
State-wise List of RCS Airports Operationalized
S No. State Airport
1. Andhra Pradesh Kadapa (Underserved)
2. Kurnool (Unserved)
3. Arunachal Pradesh Tezu (Unserved)
4. Passighat (Unserved)
5. Hollongi (Unserved)
6. Assam Jorhat (Underserved)
7. Lilabari (Underserved)
8. Tezpur (Underserved)
9. Rupsi (Unserved)
10. Bihar Darbhanga (Unserved)
11. Chhattisgarh Jagdalpur (Unserved)
12. Bilaspur (Unserved)
13. Ambikapur (Unserved)
14. Daman & Diu Diu (Underserved)
15. Gujarat Bhavnagar (Underserved)
16. Jamnagar (Underserved)
17. Kandla (Unserved)
18. Keshod (Unserved)
19. Mundra (Unserved)
20. Porbandar (Underserved)
21.
Statue of Unity (W) (Unserved)
22. Sabarmati River Front (W)
(Unserved)
23. Haryana
Hissar (Unserved)
24. Himachal Pradesh Shimla (Unserved)
25. Kullu (Underserved)
26. Mandi – Heliport (Unserved)
27. Rampur – Heliport (Unserved)
28. Jharkhand Deoghar (Unserved)
29. Jamshedpur (Unserved)
30. Karnataka Belgaum (Underserved)
31. Hubli (Underserved)
32. Mysore (Unserved)
33. Vidyanagar (Unserved)
34. Kalaburgi (Gulbarga) (Unserved)
35. Bidar (Unserved)
36. Shivamogga (Unserved)
37. Kerala Kannur (Unserved)
38. Lakshadweep Agatti (Underserved)
39. Madhya Pradesh Gwalior (Underserved)
40. Rewa (Unserved)
41. Datia (Unserved)S No. State Airport
42. Maharashtra Gondia (Unserved)
43. Jalgaon (Unserved)
44. Kolhapur (Unserved)
45. Nanded (Unserved)
46. Ozar (Nasik) (Unserved)
47. Sindhudurg (Unserved)
48. Amravati (Unserved)
49. Manipur Jiribam Heliport (Unserved)
50. Tamenglong Heliport (Unserved)
51. Meghalaya Shillong (Underserved)
52. Nagaland Dimapur (Underserved)
53. Odisha Jharsuguda (Unserved)
54. Jeypore (Unserved)
55. Rourkela (Unserved)
56. Utkela (Unserved)
57. Pondicherry (UT) Pondicherry (Underserved)
58. Punjab Adampur (Unserved)
59. Bhatinda (Unserved)
60. Ludhiana (Unserved)
61. Pathankot (Unserved)
62. Rajasthan Bikaner (Unserved)
63. Jaisalmer (Unserved)
64. Kishangarh (Unserved)
65. Sikkim Pakyong (Unserved)
66. Tamil Nadu Salem (Unserved)
67. Uttar Pradesh Agra (Underserved)
68. Aligarh (Unserved)
69. Azamgarh (Unserved)
70. Bareilly (Unserved)
71. Chitrakoot (Unserved)
72. Moradabad (Unserved)
73. Prayagraj (Underserved)
74. Kanpur (Chakeri) (Unserved)
75. Hindon (Unserved)
76. Shravasti (Unserved)
77. Kushinagar (Unserved)
78. Uttarakhand Pantnagar (Underserved)
79. Pithoragarh (Unserved)
80. Sahastradhara - Heliport
(Unserved)
81. Chinyalisaur –Heliport (Unserved)
82. Gaucher –Heliport(Unserved)
83. New Tehri –Heliport(Unserved)
84. Srinagar –Heliport(Unserved)S No. State Airport
85. Haldwani – Heliport(Unserved)
86. Almora – Heliport (Unserved)
87. Champawat – Heliport(Unserved)
88. Munsyari – Heliport (Unserved)
89. Nainital – Heliport (Unserved)
90. Bageshwar – Heliport (Unserved)
91. West Bengal Cooch Behar (Unserved)
92. Durgapur (Underserved)Annexure-II
Year-wise passengers travelled under the UDAN scheme
Financial Year Passenger travelled
2017-18 2,63,166
2018-19 12,40,896
2019-20 29,91,337
2020-21 14,98,066
2021-22 32,99,861
2022-23 24,97,361
2023-24 18,65,101
2024-25 14,10,499