Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to questions regarding the Regional Air Connectivity Scheme (UDAN). It details the number of operational airports, heliports, and water aerodromes under UDAN, the criteria for route selection, the status of projects in Maharashtra, proposals for Raigad, and measures for flight viability. Development works at Ratnagiri Airport are in progress, with a targeted completion date of March 2026.
Key Points / Main Content:
UDAN Scheme Overview:
* UDAN is a demand-driven scheme that conducts bidding rounds to expand destinations and routes.
* Airlines submit proposals based on their demand assessments.
* Selection of airlines is conducted through a transparent bidding process.
* Revival/upgradation of unserved/underserved airports/airstrips occurs after bid validation and award to Selected Airline Operator (SAO).
Operational Airports/Aerodromes:
* 92 airports have been operationalized under the UDAN scheme (state-wise list provided in Annexure).
Maharashtra Projects:
* Seven airports in Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Nanded, Nasik, Gondia, Sindhudurg, and Amravati) have been developed and operationalized under UDAN.
* Sholapur Airport has been developed, and commercial flight operations have commenced.
* Ratnagiri Airport development is underway, targeting completion by March 2026.
* No proposals have been received for airstrips in the Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency under UDAN.
Route Selection Criteria:
* Interested airlines submit proposals based on their assessment of demand on particular routes.
Financial Incentives for Viability:
* Financial incentives are provided to airline operators on regional routes.
* These include concessions from Central Government, State Governments/Union Territories, and airport operators.
* Viability Gap Funding (VGF) bridges the gap between operational costs and expected revenues.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government, State Governments/Union Territories, and Airport Operators:
* Impact: Required to provide concessions to reduce airline operation costs.
* Action Required: Implement and manage concessions as per the UDAN scheme.
Airline Operators (SAO):
* Impact: Selected Airline Operators benefit from financial incentives and VGF to operate on regional routes.
* Action Required: Submit proposals based on demand assessments during bidding rounds, operate flights on awarded routes, and utilize available financial incentives.
Citizens/Passengers:
* Impact: Increased regional air connectivity and accessibility.
* Action Required: Utilize the newly operationalized routes for travel.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN: Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) is a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to enhance air connectivity to underserved and unserved airports in India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
Maharashtra: A state in the western peninsular region of India.
Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency: A Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituency in Maharashtra, India.
Kolhapur Airport: An airport located in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, which has been developed under the UDAN scheme.
Jalgaon Airport: An airport located in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, which has been developed under the UDAN scheme.
Nanded Airport: An airport located in Nanded, Maharashtra, which has been developed under the UDAN scheme.
Nasik Airport: Also referred to as Ozar Airport, located in Nashik, Maharashtra, and developed under the UDAN scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 765
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY UNDER UDAN
765. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the total number of airports, heliports, and water
aerodromes made operational under the UDAN scheme till date,
State-wise;
(b) the criteria used for the selection of routes under the UDAN
scheme;
(c) the current status of regional air connectivity projects
sanctioned in Maharashtra, including Raigad Lok Sabha
Constituency;
(d) whether any proposals have been received for developing an
airstrip or heliport in Raigad to improve connectivity and if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) the details of measures taken to ensure viability and frequency
of flights from operational airports in underserved areas?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): The details are at Annexure.
(b): Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-
UDAN) is a demand-driven ongoing scheme where bidding rounds
are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations
and routes. Based on their assessment of demand on particular
routes, interested airlines submit their proposals at the time of
bidding under UDAN. Selection of Airlines is done through a
transparent bidding process. Revival/up-gradation of unserved andunderserved airports/airstrips is undertaken upon its identification
through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator (SAO).;
(c): Under the UDAN scheme, seven airports, namely, Kolhapur,
Jalgaon, Nanded, Nasik, Gondia, Sindhudurg and Amravati have
already been developed and operationalised in Maharashtra.
Sholapur Airport has also been developed under the scheme, and
commercial flight operations have already commenced.
Development works at Ratnagiri Airport are currently in progress,
with a targeted completion date of March 2026.
(d): No such proposal for inclusion of airstrips in the Raigad Lok
Sabha Constituency, under the UDAN Scheme has been received
from the State Government.
(e): The UDAN Scheme provides financial incentives to airline
operators on regional routes that include: Concessions by the
Central Government, State Governments/ Union Territories and
airport operators to reduce airline operation costs; and the Viability
Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the gap between operational costs and
expected revenues on such routes.
******Annexure
List of 92 Airports operationalized under UDAN Scheme- State-wise
S No. State Airport
1. Andhra Pradesh Kadapa
2. Kurnool
3. Arunachal Pradesh Tezu
4. Passighat
5. Hollongi
6. Assam Jorhat
7. Lilabari
8. Tezpur
9. Rupsi
10. Bihar Darbhanga
11. Chhattisgarh Jagdalpur
12. Bilaspur
13. Ambikapur
14. Daman & Diu Diu
15. Gujarat Bhavnagar
16. Jamnagar
17. Kandla
18. Keshod
19. Mundra
20. Porbandar
21. Statue of Unity (W)
22. Sabarmati River Front (W)
23. Haryana Hissar
24. Himachal Pradesh ShimlaS No. State Airport
25. Kullu
26. Mandi – Heliport
27. Rampur – Heliport
28. Jharkhand Deoghar
29. Jamshedpur
30. Karnataka Belgaum
31. Hubli
32. Mysore
33. Vidyanagar
34. Kalaburgi (Gulbarga)
35. Bidar
36. Shivamogga
37. Kerala Kannur
38. Lakshadweep Agatti
39. Madhya Pradesh Gwalior
40. Rewa
41. Datia
42. Maharashtra Gondia
43. Jalgaon
44. Kolhapur
45. Nanded
46. Ozar (Nasik)
47. Sindhudurg
48. Amravati
49. Manipur Jiribam Heliport
50. Tamenglong Heliport
51. Meghalaya Shillong
52. Nagaland DimapurS No. State Airport
53. Odisha Jharsuguda
54. Jeypore
55. Rourkela
56. Utkela
57. Pondicherry (UT) Pondicherry
58. Punjab Adampur
59. Bhatinda
60. Ludhiana
61. Pathankot
62. Rajasthan Bikaner
63. Jaisalmer
64. Kishangarh
65. Sikkim Pakyong
66. Tamil Nadu Salem
67. Uttar Pradesh Agra
68. Aligarh
69. Azamgarh
70. Bareilly
71. Chitrakoot
72. Moradabad
73. Prayagraj
74. Kanpur (Chakeri)
75. Hindon
76. Shravasti
77. Kushinagar
78. Uttarakhand Pantnagar
79. Pithoragarh
80. Sahastradhara - HeliportS No. State Airport
81. Chinyalisaur –Heliport
82. Gaucher –Heliport
83. New Tehri –Heliport
84. Srinagar –Heliport
85. Haldwani – Heliport
86. Almora – Heliport
87. Champawat – Heliport
88. Munsyari – Heliport
89. Nainital – Heliport
90. Bageshwar – Heliport
91. West Bengal Cooch Behar
92. Durgapur