**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Unstarred Question No. 3189, to be answered on December 18th, 2025, regarding routes under the UDAN 5.4 Scheme. The answer provides details on the progress of the UDAN scheme, specifically regarding its impact on regional air connectivity and air services in Tamil Nadu. As of November 30, 2025, 651 routes have been operationalised.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UDAN Scheme Overview:**
* As of November 30, 2025, 651 routes, including 26 routes in Tamil Nadu, have been operationalised under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN).
* The RCS-UDAN Scheme aims to enhance affordable air connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in Tier 2 and 3 towns across the country, including Tamil Nadu.
* **UDAN 5.4 Details:**
* UDAN 5.4 was conducted to re-bid cancelled routes eligible for re-allocation.
* No RCS routes connecting Tamil Nadu were eligible for re-bidding under UDAN 5.4.
* **Airport Development in Tamil Nadu:**
* Salem Airport was developed and operationalised on March 25, 2018, under the UDAN Scheme.
* Development works at Vellore and Neyveli airports in Tamil Nadu have been completed and are currently undergoing the licensing process.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tamil Nadu (General)**
* **Impact**: Tamil Nadu benefits from enhanced air connectivity through the operationalisation of 26 UDAN routes.
* **Action Required**: No specific action is mentioned; however, monitoring the impact of the newly operationalised routes would be beneficial.
**Tier 2 and 3 Towns in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact**: Increased air connectivity improves accessibility to and from unserved and underserved areas.
* **Action Required**: None specifically mentioned, but local authorities can leverage the improved connectivity to boost economic activity.
**Vellore and Neyveli Airports**
* **Impact**: Completion of development works allows for the airports to potentially operate new routes under the UDAN scheme after the licensing process is complete.
* **Action Required**: Continue with the licensing process to enable operations at these airports.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN 5.4: Version 5.4 of the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme to enhance regional air connectivity.
RCS-UDAN: Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik, a scheme to enhance affordable air connectivity to unserved and underserved areas.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government body responsible for civil aviation in India, answering questions regarding UDAN 5.4.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India that is the focus of the questions regarding the UDAN scheme, including the number of routes and airports covered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3189
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18th December 2025 )
ROUTES UNDER UDAN 5.4 SCHEME
3189. SHRI NAVASKANI K
SHRI C N ANNADURAI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the total number of routes operationalised under the UDAN scheme since its inception in
the country including those connecting various cities in Tamil Nadu;
(b) whether the Government has launched UDAN Version 5.4 to enhance regional air
connectivity and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the objectives and key features of UDAN 5.4, particularly with respect to improving air
services in Tamil Nadu;
(d) the number of routes and airports in Tamil Nadu proposed to be covered under UDAN
5.4;
(e) whether the scheme gives special focus to underserved and unserved regions and Tier-
2/Tier-3 cities in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
(f) the current status of airport infrastructure in the said State to support the new UDAN 5.4
routes; and
(g) the steps taken to monitor performance and ensure timely implementation of UDAN 5.4
in the said State?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) to (g): As on 30.11.2025, 651 routes, including 26 routes in Tamil Nadu, have been
operationalised across the country under Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam
Naagrik (RCS-UDAN) .
UDAN 5.4 was conducted to re-bid cancelled routes that were identified as eligible for re-
allocation under the scheme. No RCS routes connecting Tamil Nadu were eligible for re-
bidding under UDAN 5.4.
The objective of the RCS-UDAN Scheme is to enhance affordable air connectivity to
unserved and underserved areas in Tier 2 and 3 towns across the country, including Tamil
Nadu.
Under the UDAN Scheme, Salem Airport was developed and operationalised on 25.03.2018.
Further development works at Vellore and Neyveli airports in Tamil Nadu have been
completed, and are currently undergoing the licensing process.
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