UDAN Scheme: Transforming Regional Connectivity with Over 1.23 Crore Passengers

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)UDAN, launched to boost regional air travel and improve connectivity to remote and underserved areas, has been a game-changer for India’s aviation sector. Since its inception, more than 1.23 crore passengers have availed the benefits of UDAN flights, experiencing the convenience of air travel like never before.

The scheme’s success can be attributed to the development and operationalization of 148 airports, which include nine heliports and two water aerodromes across the country. These infrastructure developments have significantly improved accessibility and connectivity for passengers in remote and underdeveloped regions.

Despite the scheme’s achievements, various challenges have contributed to delays in accomplishing the full potential of UDAN. The major factors affecting the development and revival of airports, heliports, and water aerodromes under UDAN areas are as follows:

1. The inability of the State Government to provide land on time: The timely availability of land is crucial for airport development. Delays in acquiring land from state governments have led to setbacks in some projects, affecting their completion timelines.
2. Time Taken by New Entrants to Obtain Schedule Commuter Operator Permits: New entrants in the aviation sector may take longer to obtain necessary permits, as they need to fulfill certain requirements before receiving Schedule Commuter Operator permits.
3. Clearances Related to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Environmental Clearances: Projects in coastal regions or areas with environmental sensitivity require CRZ and environmental clearances, which can sometimes lead to delays in approvals and execution.
4. Non-availability of Suitable Aircraft: For some routes, there may be challenges in finding suitable aircraft to operate flights, which can delay the launch of services.
5. Leasing Issues and Long Lead Time for Aircraft Delivery: Procuring and leasing aircraft, especially small ones, may pose challenges, and long lead times for delivery can cause delays in commencing operations.
6. Delayed Readiness of Airports, Heliports, and Water Aerodromes under State Governments or UT, PSU: Infrastructure projects under state governments, union territories, and public sector undertakings may sometimes face delays in becoming operational due to various administrative and logistical reasons.

To address these challenges and ensure the timely completion of projects, regular monitoring of the progress of upgradation works is undertaken. Moreover, efforts are made to identify and remove bottlenecks in the operationalization of airports and other facilities under the UDAN scheme.

Despite the hurdles, the RCS UDAN scheme has demonstrated its potential to revolutionize regional air connectivity in India. By acknowledging the existing challenges and working collectively to overcome them, India can further strengthen its aviation infrastructure and continue providing efficient and accessible air travel options to all corners of the country.