**Subject: Summary of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 403 Regarding Strengthening Air Connectivity in Rajasthan**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Civil Aviation to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 403, posed by Shri Lumbaram Choudhary on August 21, 2025, concerning the strengthening of air connectivity in Rajasthan, with a specific focus on Sirohi district.
**Key Findings:**
* **UDAN Scheme and Operational Airports:** Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN), the airports at Bikaner, Kishangarh, and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan have been operationalized.
* **Airports Identified for Future Development:** Uterlai and Sriganganagar airports have been identified for development and operation of RCS flights within Rajasthan.
* **Sirohi District Air Connectivity:** The government acknowledges the lack of air connectivity in the Sirohi district.
* **Manpur Airstrip Status:** The Manpur Airstrip in Sirohi district, owned by the State Government, is listed as an unserved airstrip under the UDAN scheme. However, as of the completion of the first five rounds of UDAN bidding, no routes connecting to Manpur Airstrip have been awarded to any airline for RCS flight operations.
* **RCS-UDAN Bidding Process:** The RCS-UDAN scheme operates on a market-driven basis, with periodic bidding rounds. Airlines submit proposals based on their demand assessments for specific routes. Route awards are contingent upon the readiness of the involved airports.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
UDAN scheme: Also known as the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik RCS UDAN, a Government program to enhance air connectivity to underserved and unserved airports in India.
Rajasthan: A state in northern India.
Shri Lumbaram Choudhary: Member of Parliament who asked the starred question.
Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu: Minister of Civil Aviation who provided the answer to the starred question.
Sirohi district of Rajasthan: A district in the state of Rajasthan, India, noted for its lack of air connectivity.
Manpur Airstrip: An airstrip located in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. It is owned by the State Government and is listed as an unserved airstrip in the UDAN Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 403
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
STRENGTHENING AIR CONNECTIVITY IN RAJASTHAN
403. SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of new airports approved under the UDAN scheme to strengthen air
connectivity in Rajasthan;
(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the lack of air connectivity in
Sirohi district of Rajasthan; and
(c) whether the Manpur Airstrip in Sirohi district has been taken over/acquired by the
Government and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for delay in introducing air
services from there?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) IN
RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 403 FOR REPLY
ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING "STRENGTHENING AIR CONNECTIVITY
IN RAJASTHAN" ASKED BY SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY. (a):
Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-
UDAN), Bikaner, Kishangarh and Jaisalmer airports in Rajasthan have been
operationalised. Further, Uterlai and Sriganganagar airports have been identified
for development and operation of RCS flights in the State of Rajasthan. (b) &
(c): RCS-UDAN in an ongoing market based Scheme wherein bidding rounds
are conducted periodically to expand connectivity to unserved and underserved
airstrips. Airlines submit proposals based on demand assessment on a particular
route during the bidding round. Valid bids are awarded for the
operationalisation of routes under the Scheme post-readiness of airports.
Manpur Airstrip, owned by the State Government, in Sirohi district of Rajasthan
is available in the list of unserved airstrips in the UDAN Scheme document.
However, no routes connecting Manpur Airstrip have been awarded to any
airline for operation of RCS flights till the completion of five rounds of bidding
conducted so far.
*****