Madhya Pradesh to Boost Regional Connectivity with Two New Airports

• 08 Mar 2024

Why in News?

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has announced plans to develop Guna and Shivpuri airports in Madhya Pradesh under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.

Key Points

• This initiative aims to improve regional air connectivity and make air travel more accessible for residents in these areas.
• Guna Airport, owned by the state government, was identified for development under the UDAN 5.2 scheme. MoCA has allocated ₹45 crore for its development.
• Shivpuri Airport, located in the Shivpuri district and also owned by the state government, will be developed under UDAN 5.2. This airport is designated for operation with 9-seater aircraft.
  • Spirit Air, a new startup airline, has placed bids for the Shivpuri-Bhopal route.
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will play a crucial role, providing Communication, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS)/Air Traffic Management (ATM), and Aeronautical Information Services (AIS). It will manage the operation and maintenance (O&M) of both the airports.

UDAN Scheme

• Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) was launched as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
• It was formulated based on the review of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016 and it was planned to remain in force for a period of 10 years.
• Under this Scheme, Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) was created, which funds the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) requirements of the scheme through a levy on certain domestic flights.
• VGF means a grant one-time or deferred, provided to support infrastructure projects that are economically justified but fall short of financial viability.
• Phases of the Scheme:
  • Phase 1 was launched in 2017, with the objective of connecting underserved and unserved airports in the country.
  • Phase 2 was launched in 2018, with the aim of expanding air connectivity to more remote and inaccessible parts of the country.
  • Phase 3 was launched in November 2018, with the focus on enhancing air connectivity to hilly and remote regions of the country.
  • Phase 4 of the UDAN scheme was launched in December 2019, with a focus on connecting islands and other remote areas of the country.
  • Phase 5 of the UDAN scheme was launched in 2023, with the focus on increased air connectivity, reduced airfares, creating more jobs, boosting tourism, trade and economic development, and achieving last-mile connectivity.
    • UDAN 5.2 focuses on achieving last-mile connectivity through small aircraft such as Category 1A (<9 seats) and Category 1(<20 seats).