Parliament Question: Implementation of the UDAN scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2nd February 2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UDAN SCHEME 201. SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether Government has reviewed the implementation of the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme in the country and in the State of Maharashtra since its inception, including the total number of routes operationalised and those that have become non-operational or discontinued, with reasons such as poor viability, low load factors and frequent service disruptions; (b) whether UDAN version 5.4 has been launched and the manner in which it seeks to address persistent shortcomings of earlier rounds; and (c) the number of routes and airports in the State of Maharashtra proposed to be covered under UDAN 5.4? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a): As on 20.01.2026, a total of 657 routes have been operationalised, connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes carrying over 160 lakhs domestic passengers on more than 3.36 lakh RCS flights under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). In the state of Maharashtra, 111 RCS routes have been operationalised so far, out of which 77 routes are currently operational. In order to improve long term sustainability of connectivity under the UDAN Scheme, the following approach is adopted: 1.To leverage the expertise of the relevant State Government in their respective regions, they have been requested to identify and prioritize high-potential aerodromes that can be developed and operationalized. 2.Airlines have been asked to submit business plans for timely operationalization, prior to the award of the route. The Implementing Agency has also been publishing the list of prioritized aerodromes that are ready or likely to be ready. Further, eligible routes that were discontinued in the past rounds due to various reasons are re-bid, awarded and operationalized in the subsequent rounds. (b) & (c): UDAN 5.4 was launched in August, 2024 to revive previously cancelled routes identified as eligible for re-bidding, which either could not commence or could not complete3 years tenure or after completing 3 years are unserved for 1 year to making air travel inclusive, sustainable and an integral part of our development journey. Under UDAN 5.4, 10 RCS routes connecting various airports in Maharashtra were available for bidding. ******