UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Why In News:
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural Daman-Delhi-Daman flight from the newly operational NAMO Airport, giving the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu its first-ever direct air link to the national capital under the UDAN scheme.
Source: PIB Release, 'Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flags off inaugural flight from NAMO Airport, Daman'
Key Points:
NAMO Airport: A dual-purpose civil-cum-Coast Guard facility operating out of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman, named in honour of the Prime Minister's vision for regional connectivity.
UDAN Scheme
About: UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) is a regional connectivity scheme aimed at making air travel affordable and improving connectivity to underserved and unserved regions of India.
It was launched in 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016, with a focus on connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through a market-based mechanism supported by government assistance.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) acts as the nodal implementing agency.
It is the statutory body responsible for management and development of civil aviation infrastructure in India.
Objectives and Significance:
Promote regional air connectivity and make air travel accessible to a wider section of the population.
Connect unserved and underserved airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
Make regional air travel affordable through regulated fares and financial incentives.
Stimulate economic activity, tourism, trade and employment in remote and less-connected regions.
Improve connectivity to hilly, northeastern, tribal and island regions.
Key Features of the Scheme
Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Provides financial support to selected airlines to make operations on regional routes commercially viable while keeping fares affordable.
Airfare Cap: Caps fares for a specified number of seats on eligible regional flights to ensure affordability.
Concessions and Incentives: Includes reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) taxes and other operational concessions to airlines on regional routes.
Collaborative Governance: Involves coordination among the Central Government, State Governments, AAI and private airport operators.
Key Innovations under the Scheme
Seaplane Operations: UDAN Round 5.5 invited bids for seaplane operations from more than 50 identified water bodies across the country.
Krishi UDAN: Facilitates the time-bound and cost-effective transpor- tation of agricultural produce by air, particularly benefiting farmers in the Northeast, hilly and tribal regions and improving their value realisation.
Lifeline UDAN: Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to transport essential medical supplies and cargo to remote and inaccessible areas.