edited by: Mohammad Haris
Last Update: February 13, 2023, 18:05 IST
UDAN stands for Common Citizen of Ude Desh (Photo: AAI)
A total viable gap funding of about Rs 2,355 crore has been released to selected airline operators by January 31, 2023, for operating UDAN flights.
A total of 73 unused/unserved airports including nine heliports and two water aerodromes have been made operational from 2017 to January 31, 2023, under the UDAN scheme. According to an official statement, a total Viable Gap Funding (VGF) of about Rs 2,355 crore has been released to selected airline operators till January 31, 2023, for operating UDAN flights.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21.10.2016 to encourage regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable for the public. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in the statement.
It added that by January 31, 2023, a total of 73 unused/underserved airports, including nine heliports and two water aerodromes, have been operationalized since 2017 under the UDAN scheme. UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme.
“Udaan is a self-financed scheme. The VGF amount is around Rs. 2355 crore has been released to selected airline operators till 31.01.2023 for operation of UDAN flights,” the ministry said.
It also said that the government has approved the scheme ‘Revitalization of Unserved and Underserved Airports’ for the revival and development of 100 unused and underserved airports, helipads and water aerodromes by 2024. Airstrips such as Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda and Pathankot in Punjab have been identified for flight operations till the completion of four rounds of bidding. Flight operations have been started by Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) from Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda and Pathankot airports.
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