Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation addressed Lok Sabha question 270 on August 7, 2025, regarding the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) in Rajasthan. The response details the scheme's features, benefits to Rajasthan, development of Uttarlai Airport, feedback received, plans for Barmer district connectivity, and Jaisalmer airport operations. The scheme aims to enhance regional air connectivity and affordability.
Key Points / Main Content:
RCS-UDAN Scheme:
Launched on October 21, 2016, to enhance regional air connectivity.
Focuses on connecting unserved and underserved airports.
Market-driven scheme with airlines bidding for routes.
Financial incentives for selected operators: Viability Gap Funding, reduced VAT/excise duty, operational concessions.
Airports developed under 'Revival of Unserved and Underserved Airports' scheme.
Rajasthan Benefits:
Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Kishangarh airports operationalized.
56 routes connecting these airports are operational.
Uttarlai Airport Development:
IAF-owned Uttarlai Airport to be developed under UDAN.
Routes connecting Uttarlai to Jaipur awarded to Ms FlyBig (19-seater aircraft).
AAI to establish a civil enclave using internal resources.
Flight commencement subject to airport readiness.
Feedback and Actions:
Challenges: last-mile connectivity, weather-related diversions/cancellations, route discontinuation, high ticket fares.
Actions: Coordination with States/UTs, technology adoption (VFR, IFR), rebidding discontinued routes, stakeholder engagement.
Modified UDAN Scheme: Enhance connectivity to 120 new destinations in 10 years; support helipads/smaller airports.
Barmer District Connectivity:
UDAN is demand-driven, with periodic bidding rounds.
Airline operators assess route feasibility and bid.
Awarded routes operationalized upon airport readiness.
Jaisalmer Airport Operations:
116,702 passengers carried to/from Jaisalmer Airport in FY 2024-25 (domestic operations).
Impact Analysis:
Airlines:
Impact: Opportunity to bid for routes, receive financial incentives, and expand operations in regional areas.
Action Required: Assess route feasibility, participate in bidding rounds, and ensure operational readiness.
Passengers:
Impact: Increased air connectivity and affordability, potential challenges related to last-mile connectivity and flight disruptions.
Action Required: Provide feedback on scheme implementation and utilize available air services.
Airports Authority of India (AAI):
Impact: Responsible for developing and upgrading airport infrastructure, including civil enclaves.
Action Required: Develop infrastructure at identified airports, such as Uttarlai, and ensure operational readiness.
State Governments/Union Territories (UTs):
Impact: Need to coordinate with the central government to improve last-mile connectivity to airports.
Action Required: Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve transportation links to and from airports.
Ministry of Civil Aviation:
Impact: Oversees the implementation of the UDAN scheme, addresses challenges, and modifies the scheme based on feedback.
Action Required: Continuously monitor scheme performance, address identified challenges, and launch modified schemes to enhance regional connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
Regional Connectivity Scheme RCSUDAN: A Government of India scheme to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable, also known as Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN).
Rajasthan: A state in India that has benefitted from the RCS-UDAN scheme, with multiple airports operationalized under the scheme.
Uttarlai Airport, Barmer, Rajasthan: An Indian Air Force airport in Barmer, Rajasthan, being connected to civil aviation services under the UDAN scheme.
Jaisalmer Airport: An airport in Rajasthan where operations and passenger traffic are reported under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Bikaner: A city in Rajasthan with an airport operationalized under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Kishangarh: A city in Rajasthan with an airport operationalized under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Airports Authority of India AAI: The organisation responsible for establishing a civil enclave at Uttarlai Airport using its internal resources.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA: The Indian governmental regulatory body for civil aviation, which received provisional passenger data from Jaisalmer Airport.
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.
******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 (RCS-
UDAN) 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 demand-
driven scheme wherein bidding rounds are conducted periodically to expand
connectivity. Airline operators assess the feasibility of operations on a particularroute 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 2024-
25.
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