Parliament Question: RCS-UDAN Scheme for Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. : 298 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th March 2026 ) RCS-UDAN SCHEME FOR TAMIL NADU 298. SHRI NAVASKANI K SHRI SELVAM G Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that multiple routes in Tamil Nadu have been operationalised under various rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, contributing to improved regional air connectivity across the State and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the impact of these routes on passenger traffic, tourism, business mobility and regional economic development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities of Tamil Nadu; (c) the progress made in strengthening regional airport infrastructure in the State including airports where development works have been completed and are at advanced stages of licensing; (d) whether the UDAN 5.4 Scheme, launched in 2024, aims to revive discontinued or terminated routes through competitive bidding and if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of such routes identified or revived in Tamil Nadu; and (e) whether the Government proposes to further expand regional air connectivity in Tamil Nadu under future rounds of the Scheme and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu) (a) & (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.298 FOR REPLY ON 12.03.2026 REGARDING 'RCS-UDAN SCHEME FOR TAMIL NADU' ASKED BY SHRI NAVASKANI K AND SHRI SELVAM G. (a) to (e): As on 28.02.2026, 663 routes, including 26 routes in Tamil Nadu, have been operationalised across the country under the Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN). In the state of Tamil Nadu, four airports, namely Salem, Vellore, Neyveli and Tanjore, have been identified for the development and operation of RCS flights. Salem Airport was developed at a cost of Rs. 24.44 Cr and operationalised under the UDAN Scheme. The licensing process and overall operational readiness are underway in respect of Vellore and Neyveli. For the development of Tanjore Airport, AAI has requested the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide a straight and direct approach road to the Airport, as the existing land area does not have straight connectivity to the National Highway. The land is yet to be provided by the State Government. Additionally, modernisation and infrastructure expansion work have been carried out at Trichy, Tuticorin, Coimbatore, Chennai and Madurai Airports. The details are placed at Annexure. Further, Madurai Airport has recently been declared as an International Airport. UDAN 5.4, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in August 2024, revived the previously cancelled routes, which were identified as eligible for re-bidding. These include routes that could not commence operations, could not complete their three-year tenure, or remained unserved for one year after completion of the three-year tenure. Under UDAN 5.4, no RCS routes connecting the Tamil Nadu state were eligible for re-bidding. UDAN has strengthened the unserved and underserved regions by improving connectivity and accessibility, boosting tourism and industry, enhancing access to healthcare, and generating direct and indirect employment. The Government has announced the Modified UDAN Scheme to expand regional connectivity to120 new destinations nationwide, targeting 4 crore passengers over the next 10 years. ******Annexure Details of Modernisation work at Airports in Tamil Nadu Sl.N Airport Expenditu Details of work carried out o. re 1 Trichy 1,162.9 Cr Construction of a new terminal building and surface car parking and associated works has been completed. 2 Tuticorin 318.16Cr Construction of a new domestic terminal building with three aerobridges, ATC Tower- cum-Technical Block, Category-7 fire station and associated works Extension of runway including blast pad, RESA, taxiway, apron, GSE area, isolation bay, and other associated works 3 Coimbator 63.31Cr Construction of an additional apron and e Runway resurfacing is completed 4. Chennai 1,640.87Cr Modernization of Chennai Airport Phase-II, Part-1 (Terminal 2) is completed Development of city-side traffic flow management with plaza, pick-up lanes, and ancillary facilities at Chennai Airport. Reconstruction and strengthening of Taxi Tracks with link taxi, part runway resurfacing has been completed Construction of MLCP at Chennai Airport. 5 Madurai 98.84Cr Construction of the new ATC cum Technical block is completed.