PM Inaugurates Airports Under the UDAN Scheme

• 21 Oct 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated three new airports which are situated in Surguja (Chhattisgarh), Rewa (Madhya Pradesh), and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh).

• The development of these airports has been carried out under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), which aims to enhance air connectivity in remote and underserved regions across India.

Key Points

• The inauguration took place virtually from Varanasi, marking the 8^th anniversary of India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), which was launched on 21st October, 2016.
• Ambikapur Airport (Surguja, Chhattisgarh):
  • Flights from this airport will connect to key destinations like Raipur, Jagdalpur, Jabalpur, Kolkata, and Delhi, promoting regional connectivity and development.
  • The inauguration is a critical step toward integrating tribal communities and remote areas of the state into the mainstream development framework.
• Rewa Airport (Madhya Pradesh):
  • The new Rewa airport is the sixth Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-a licensed airport in Madhya Pradesh, developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
  • This airport will improve connectivity in the state's Vindhya region.
• Saharanpur Airport (Uttar Pradesh):
  • Saharanpur's civil airport lacks its own runway but is now ready for operations.
  • The local administration is working on finalising the flight operation schedule, which is expected to start soon, facilitating economic growth and travel convenience in the region.
• RCS-UDAN:
  • It was launched as part of the NCAP in 2016 with a 10-year vision to improve air travel infrastructure, especially in remote and underserved areas of India.
    • Since the scheme's inception, the first UDAN flight took off on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi.
  • Several iterations of the UDAN scheme (UDAN 1.0 to 5.4) have been implemented over the years, each focusing on different aspects like including more airports, connecting helipads, integrating tourism routes, and targeting regional challenges such as hilly terrains and remote locations.
• Key Versions of the UDAN Scheme:
  • UDAN 1.0: Awarded 128 routes to 70 airports, operationalizing 36 new airports.
  • UDAN 2.0: Introduced 73 new airports and included helipad connectivity.
  • UDAN 3.0: Incorporated tourism routes and seaplane connectivity, with an emphasis on the North-East region.
  • UDAN 4.0: Focused on improving connectivity in the North-East, hilly states, and islands. Added helicopter and seaplane operations.
  • UDAN 5.0 to 5.4: Enhanced routes for larger aircraft, removed distance restrictions, and prioritized quick operationalization.
    • The latest iterations emphasize helicopter connectivity, operational flexibility for small aircraft, and reopening discontinued routes.

Note:

• NCAP: It includes a goal of developing a sustainable aviation framework that promotes the use of alternative fuels, energy-efficient aircraft, and infrastructure, among others.