Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation addressed questions regarding the UDAN scheme, specifically concerning underserved routes, timelines, challenges faced by airlines, and measures to ensure equitable connectivity. The response details the operationalization of routes under the scheme since its launch on October 21, 2016, identifies challenges faced by private airlines, and outlines steps taken to address these challenges and ensure the scheme's objectives are met. The report also provides a state-wise annexure with details of non-operational airports developed under the RCS scheme.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **UDAN Scheme Overview:**
* The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched on October 21, 2016, for a 10-year period.
* As of July 15, 2025, 637 RCS routes connecting 92 unserved and underserved airports (including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes) have been operationalized.
* **Operational Challenges and Solutions:**
* Challenges include low passenger demand, low visibility, slot availability, ATC watch hours, aerodrome development delays, and aircraft shortages.
* Solutions involve adopting technologies like Special VFR, IFR, and RNP procedures, and coordination with airports.
* State governments are requested to prioritize high-potential aerodromes for timely development.
* Airlines are required to submit business plans before route awards to ensure timely operationalization.
* **Ensuring Equitable Air Connectivity:**
* RCS UDAN is a market-driven scheme focused on connecting unserved and underserved airports through a demand-based bidding process.
* Routes are awarded to ensure they are not disproportionately allocated to any region or operator.
* **Non-Operational Airports (Annexure Details):**
* Provides a state-wise list of non-operational airports developed under the RCS scheme, including:
* Arunachal Pradesh (Pasighat)
* Gujarat (Bhavnagar)
* Punjab (Pathankot)
* Rajasthan (Jaisalmer)
* Sikkim (Pakyong)
* Uttar Pradesh (Kushinagar, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Shravasti, Moradabad)
* Includes expenditure incurred and remarks regarding routes to be operationalized or restarted.
Impact Analysis:
* **Private Airlines:**
* Impact: Face operational challenges like low passenger demand and infrastructure limitations on UDAN routes.
* Action Required: Submit business plans for timely route operationalization and participate in periodic reviews with the government.
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for the timely development and operationalization of aerodromes.
* Action Required: Identify and prioritize high-potential aerodromes.
* **Passengers / Public:**
* Impact: Benefit from improved air connectivity to underserved regions.
* Action Required: Utilize the newly operationalized routes to enhance regional travel and accessibility.
* **Ministry of Civil Aviation:**
* Impact: Oversees the implementation and success of the UDAN scheme.
* Action Required: Continue conducting periodic reviews, addressing operational challenges, and ensuring equitable connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN: Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, a regional connectivity scheme to make air travel affordable and widespread.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation.
SHRI K GOPINATH: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question about the UDAN scheme.
Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Regional Connectivity Scheme RCS: A government scheme to enhance air connectivity to underserved and unserved airports.
Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh: An airport in Arunachal Pradesh that is part of the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Bhavnagar, Gujarat: An airport in Gujarat that is part of the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Pakyong, Sikkim: An airport in Sikkim that is part of the RCS-UDAN scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 870
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
ROUTES UNDER UDAN
870. SHRI K GOPINATH
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the routes under the UDAN scheme that remain
underserved/unserved by private airlines despite funds being
sanctioned for their implementation along with the funds sanctioned
and utilized so far, State-wise;
(b) the timeline set for achieving the targets under the said scheme
and the progress made so far in terms of operational routes;
(c) the mechanisms in place to evaluate the operational challenges
faced by private airlines on UDAN routes and the steps taken by the
Government to address the said challenges; and
(d) the measures being taken to ensure that the scheme achieves
its core objective of providing equitable air connectivity to
underserved regions while preventing airlines from prioritizing only
commercially profitable routes?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): State-wise details of non-operational Airports and routes
therefrom under RCS is attached at Annexure.
(b) The Government launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) -
Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) on 21.10.2016 for a period of 10
years. 637 RCS routes connecting 92 unserved and underserved
airports (including 15 heliports & 02 water aerodromes) have been
operationalised under the Scheme, as on 15.07.2025.(c): To identify operational challenges, the Government conducts
periodic reviews with all stakeholders including the airlines. There
are various operational challenges, including low passenger demand
on some routes, low visibility at certain airports, challenges related
to the availability of slots, ATC watch hours, delays in the
development of aerodromes, and a shortage of aircraft. To
overcome these issues the Government is increasingly adopting
technologies like Special VFR, IFR and RNP procedures and
coordinates with airports. To ensure the timely development and
operationalisation of aerodromes, the relevant State Governments
have been requested to identify and prioritize high-potential
aerodromes. Further, airlines have been asked to submit business
plans for timely operationalisation, before the award of the route.
(d): RCS - UDAN is a market-driven scheme that envisages providing
connectivity to unserved and underserved airports of the country
through a demand-based transparent bidding process. Only routes
that connect an unserved or underserved aerodrome are eligible to
be awarded under the Scheme. To ensure equitable air connectivity,
the scheme ensures that the routes are not awarded
disproportionately to any region or operator.
******Annexure
Details of presently Non-Operational Airports developed under RCS
RCS Routes to
Expenditure
be
S.N. State Airport Incurred in Remarks
operationalized
Rs. Crores
/ restarted
Arunachal
1. Pasighat 0.07 Jorhat, Shillong
Pradesh
2. Gujarat Bhavnagar 69.18 Pune
3. Punjab Pathankot 5.18 Nil
4. Rajasthan Jaisalmer 10.34 Nil No awarded routes available.
5. Sikkim Pakyong 178.75 Nil
RCS route connecting Kushinagar to
Uttar
6. Kushinagar 108.22 Saharanpur Saharanpur awarded to Spicejet with Q400
Pradesh
type of aircraft.
Uttar Lucknow,
7. Aligarh 31.94
Pradesh Kanpur, Hindon
Uttar
8. Azamgarh 29.57 Lucknow
Pradesh
Lucknow,
Kanpur,
Uttar
9. Chitrakoot 32.79 Prayagraj,
Pradesh
Varanasi,
Khajuraho
All routes connecting to Lucknow have been
suspended due to the ongoing runway re-
carpeting at the airport.
Lucknow,
Uttar Kanpur,
10. Shravasti 32.84
Pradesh Prayagraj,
Varanasi
Lucknow,
Uttar Kanpur, Hindon,
11. Moradabad 30.41
Pradesh Saharanpur,
Dehradun