Parliament Question: Routes awarded under UDAN in Andhra Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 983 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th February 2026 ROUTES AWARDED UNDER UDAN IN ANDHRA PREDESH 983. SHRI YERRAM VENKATA SUBBA REDDY Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether it is a fact that 19 routes have been awarded under UDAN in the State of Andhra Pradesh; (b) whether it is also a fact that out of 19, 18 routes have been operationalized; (c) if so, the reasons for only 9 routes are now operational and the remaining 9 become inoperative; (d) the efforts Ministry is making and ensuring that all 19 routs become operational; and (e) the highlights of the proposed UDAN 2.0? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (c): In the state of Andhra Pradesh, a total of 34 valid RCS routes have been awarded, out of which 32 RCS routes have been operationalised under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). At present, 12 routes are operational in the State. The RCS routes that were discontinued by airlines have completed their prescribed three-year Viability Gap Funding (VGF) tenure under the Scheme. Further, these routes are presently not eligible for re-bidding under UDAN, as both the departure and arrival airports on such routes have attained the status of served airports, having more than seven scheduled departures per week. The UDAN Scheme is primarily targeted at improving air connectivity to unserved and underserved airports. (d) The Ministry, in coordination with the Implementing Agency, State Government and airline operators, is making sustained efforts to restore connectivity on discontinued routes. Routes that were discontinued in the past rounds are periodically reviewed and wherever feasible, also re-bid, awarded and operationalised in subsequent UDAN bidding rounds. This is an evolving process. Airlines are also free to operate commercial flights on these routes based on their own assessment of passenger demand and commercial viability. (e): The Government has announced the launch of the modified UDAN Scheme to increase regional connectivity to 120 new destinations across the country, and to cater to 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years. The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and North East region districts. ******