479 RCS-UDAN routes operational connecting 74 airports, including 2 Water Aerodromes & 9 heliports
As on 30.06.2023, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) amounting to Rs. 2729.11 crore has been released from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT) to the Selected Airline Operators for operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS) – UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) Scheme.
On the basis of the four rounds of bidding under UDAN, 479 routes are operational, connecting 74 airports, including 2 Water Aerodromes and 9 heliports. More than 123 lakh passengers have benefited from the Scheme.
Civil Aviation sector is likely to grow considerably in the next five years. Some of the areas of growth are as under:
i. It has been decided by the Government to operationalise 21 Greenfield airports in the country. Out of this, 11 Greenfield airports have already been operationalised. Construction works at six airports is progressing.
ii. As per industry projections there may be a need for 1000 pilots per annum in India over the next five years. To augment the availability of Pilots in the country, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has liberalised the Flying Training Organsiation policy.
iii. As per the industry projections, the major domestic airlines are likely to make more than 900 additions to their fleets.
iv. The Government has set a target to operationalise 1000 UDAN routes during the currency of the scheme and to revive/develop 100 unserved and underserved airports/heliports/water aerodromes in the country by 2024 for operation of UDAN flights. UDAN is an ongoing market driven 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. An airport which is included in the awarded routes of UDAN and requires upgradation/development for commencement of UDAN operations, is developed under 'Revival of unserved and underserved airports' scheme.