India Extends UDAN Scheme for 10 More Years: What is the UDAN Scheme? Check Full Details

As per a statement issued by the Minister of Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, the Indian government intends to extend the "UDAN" (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional air connectivity initiative for an additional ten years. The minister claimed that "UDAN" has contributed to the development of regional airlines, the creation of jobs, and the growth of the travel industry.

Minister of Civil Aviation Naidu spoke at a special event commemorating the eight-year anniversary of the "UDAN" program. The Minister said that "UDAN" has transformed aviation travel by linking India's regional areas with international locations. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's news release, "RCS-UDAN is not only committed to providing last-mile connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities; it also stands as a prominent contributor to the burgeoning tourism sector."

It's noteworthy that the government plans to extend the program for an additional ten years after it was first introduced for a period of ten years.

What is the UDAN Scheme?

The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme aims to improve air connectivity to underserved regional areas across India. It provides financial incentives to selected airlines, including discounts from airport operators and both central and state governments. To support this, the government offers Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to a limited number of airline operators, making air travel more affordable and accessible in these regions.

UDAN Scheme Milestones

With the opening of 601 routes and 86 airports under UDAN, more than 14.4 million passengers have been served so far. Notably, on April 27, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the first flight under the "UDAN" program. The flight was from Delhi to Shimla. The program's goal is to give small regional airlines the chance to grow their operations.

The scheme has successfully connected Thirty-four States and Union Territories. Under UDAN, 86 aerodromes have been put into service.

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