What is UDAN?

• Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
• It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.
• The objective is to create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.
• The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports.
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is designated as the Implementing Agency under this Scheme.
• UDAN 2- Under UDAN 2.0, Helipads were connected with priority to the North-East and the hill states.
• UDAN 3– Inclusion of Tourism Routes in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes.
• UDAN 4- 78 new routes under the 4th round of UDAN and also the operation of helicopter and seaplanes also been incorporated.

Objectives

• To make travel affordable and accessible to all.
• Ensuring connectivity to the under-served areas in the country by the revival of existing airports and airstrips
• Ministry aims to operationalize around 1000 routes and develop more than 100 airports in the next five years.
• The Ministry aims to achieve this by focusing on operationalizing routes in the priority areas.

Why in News?

Taking the next stride in boosting regional aerial connectivity in India under RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) of the Government of India, the second direct flight commenced operations from Hyderabad, Telangana to Nashik, Maharashtra.

References:

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1674396
2. https://vikaspedia.in/news/78-new-routes-approved-under-udan-4-0