Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India has launched the 5th round of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) to improve connectivity in remote and regional areas of the country.
About UDAN Scheme
It was launched as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016, to provide affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes to the common man even in small towns.
- It envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
Comparison:
| UDAN 1.0 | UDAN 2.0 | UDAN 3.0 | UDAN 4.0 | UDAN 5.0 | |
| Focus Category | Category 1 (19-78 Seats) | 1 (19-78 Seats) | 1 (19-78 Seats) | 1 (19-78 Seats) | 2 (20-80 Seats) and 3 (>80 Seats) |
| Distance Length Cap | 500 km | 500 km | 800 km | 1,200 km | Now no restriction on the distance between the origin and destination of the flight |
| Viability Gap Funding Cap | 70% for Cat-1, 90% for Hilly States, J&K, Ladakh, NE and Island regions | Same as UDAN 1.0 | Same as UDAN 1.0 | Same as UDAN 1.0 | 60% for Priority Areas, 20% for Non-Priority Areas |
| Number of Airports | 70 airports | 325 airports | 688 airports | 766 airports | 766 airports |
| Exclusivity | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year |
| Implementation Period | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Other features of UDAN 5.0:
- No predetermined routes would be offered. Only Network and Individual Route Proposal proposed by airlines will be considered.
- The same route will not be awarded to a single airline more than once, whether in different networks or in the same network.
- Airlines would be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award of the route. Earlier this deadline was 6 months
