RCS UDAN: Enhancing Air Connectivity for Underserved Regions in India

• About: RCS UDAN is a government-backed initiative to improve air infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions.

• NCAP: It is an important component of India’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) under a 10-year vision.
  • Goal: To make regional air connectivity a reality by taking air travel to the masses by making it affordable and convenient.
  • The success of such a policy will lead to significant growth of the civil aviation sector, promotion of tourism, employment generation and balanced regional growth, enhance regional connectivity and enhance ease of doing business in the country.
• Objective: To improve unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfill the aspirations of the common citizens.
• Funding: The scheme will be funded jointly by the central government and state governments.

Key Components of UDAN Scheme: Enhancing Air Infrastructure in India

• First Component: Develop new airports and enhance the existing regional airports to increase the number of operational airports for civilian flights from 70 to at least 150 airports.
• Second Component: Adding new flight routes to connect more than 100 underserved airports in smaller towns with each other as well as with well-served airports in bigger cities using the “Viability Gap Funding” (VGF) model.
  • The Viability Gap Funding will be shared between the Union government and the State government.

Evolution of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik: Enhancing Air Connectivity Across Versions in India

• UDAN 1.0: Under this scheme, 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports).
• UDAN 2.0: under this upgraded scheme, 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced and for the first time, helipads were also included.
• UDAN 3.0: Under this initiative, Tourism Routes were included in the scheme. Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes were introduced under the scheme, apart from several routes in the North-East Region.
• UDAN 4.0: The fourth version gave impetus to North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands.
• UDAN 5.0: UDAN 5.0 focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft. There is no restriction on the distance between the origin and destination of the flight, which earlier was 600 Km.
  • UDAN 5.1: It is designed especially for helicopter routes by increasing the scope of operations for helicopter operators, enhancing VGF and reducing Airfare Caps.
    • Operations will be allowed provided that at least one origin or destination is in a priority area and at least one origin or destination is a heliport.
  • UDAN 5.2: This will enhance connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country, and achieve last-mile connectivity through small aircraft (<20 seats).
    • The scheme allows for greater operational flexibility to the small aircraft operators.

RCS Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik: A Transformative Success in Enhancing Air Connectivity

• Passenger Traffic: Till now, RCS-UDAN has ensured the travel of more than 130 lakh passengers from underserved regions.
• Operational Airports: Since the introduction of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik scheme, the number of operational airports has gone up to 141 from 74 at the start. 
• Regional Connectivity: More than 29 States/UTs across the country have been provided air connectivity under the RCS UDAN scheme.

The Significance of RCS UDAN in Revolutionizing Air Connectivity

• Growth of Civil Aviation Industry: The scheme has enabled growth of the civil aviation industry by helping airline operators to start up and develop a sustainable business model. 
  • Small regional airlines FlyBig, Star Air, and IndiaOne Air etc have benefitted from the scheme.
• Aircraft Manufacturing Industry: The success of the scheme has generated an escalating demand for new aircraft. This could help the domestic aircraft manufacturing industry to prosper.
• Boost Tourism: The scheme, through its goal of providing last-mile connectivity to far-off regions, has ensured growth of tourism in the country.
• Economic Growth in Isolated Areas: Introduction of helicopter services under Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik scheme has ensured connectivity to isolated regions and allowed the local economy to grow. This is particularly true in the case of Himalayan and North-east states.
• Development of New Airports: The scheme has led to the development of new airports in the country. This puts new cities on the air map of the country.
• Creation of Jobs: Expansion of air travel has managed to create new jobs in the air transport sector, logistics sector, hospitality and tourism sector.

Challenges Faced by the UDAN Scheme in India’s Air Connectivity

• Land Acquisition: For operating new routes under the scheme, state governments are required to provide land on time. In absence of this, there will be delay in the start of air connectivity.
• Environmental Clearances: Another major impediment in introducing the scheme is obtaining clearances related to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and other Environmental guidelines.
• Aircraft Availability: India does not have enough aircrafts to serve the needs of new upcoming airports and air routes. There is an urgent need to expand the availability of aircrafts.
• Aircraft Servicing: Procuring aircraft spares from abroad have hindered the smooth functioning of airports, heliports, and water aerodromes.
• Facilitation of New Companies: New airlines companies have failed to obtain Schedule Commuter Operator permits due to difficulties in fulfilling necessary requirements promptly.

International UDAN Scheme: Expanding Global Air Connectivity for India

• About: International UDAN has been introduced with an objective to boost air connectivity from certain States of the country with selected international destinations to promote socio-economic growth. 
• Identification of Routes: State governments will identify international routes for which the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will determine a subsidy amount.
• Funding: The financial assistance to an airline under the scheme will be offered from the International Air Connectivity Fund (IACF).
• Period of Operation: An airline, which was awarded a particular route, will have exclusive rights to a subsidy on that route for a period of three years.
• Capping Fees: As compared to the RCS Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik scheme, international UDAN will not have capping fares.
• Criteria: The scheme is applicable for only Indian carriers.
  • Passenger aircraft with a capacity of 70 seats or more can fly the foreign routes under this scheme.

Krishi UDAN: Revolutionizing Agricultural Transport for India’s Farmers

• The scheme aims to provide seamless, cost-effective, time-bound air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce, especially from Northeast, hilly and tribal regions of the country. 
• It is applicable to both international and national routes. The scheme has been introduced to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products for improving their value realisation.