New Delhi, July 17 (IANS). The government’s Rs 28,840 crore revised UDAN scheme aims to connect more and more regional cities of the country with air connectivity. The scheme envisages construction of 100 new airports and 200 modern helipads as another transformative initiative in India’s aviation sector.
The revised UDAN scheme, launched with a budget of Rs 28,840 crore to bring more regional cities on the country’s airmap, aims to build 100 new airports and 200 modern helipads in another major revamp of the aviation sector in India, according to a fact sheet released by the government on Friday.
Earlier, Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN, launched in October 2016, was an important step towards making air travel more affordable and accessible for the common citizens. The scheme also expanded air connectivity to under-served and unserved areas of the country. Today India has become the third largest country in the world in terms of domestic aviation market. In the last decade, the number of operating airports in the country has increased from 74 in 2014 to 165 as of July 15.
In the new phase, the revised UDAN Scheme will take this growth process forward with greater emphasis on expanding airport infrastructure, improving operational support and creating an improved ecosystem for airline operators serving smaller markets. The fact sheet states that its purpose is to strengthen earlier successes and meet new needs.
Airline operators in small markets require adequate support systems. Geographical conditions are difficult in many areas. In such areas, helipads and specialized aircraft improve access to essential services. Therefore, the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Revised UDAN has been designed as a robust and forward-thinking framework to meet these needs.
Development of airdromes is a core part of the revised UDAN scheme. Under this, a total budget of Rs 12,159 crore has been proposed to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips to expand aviation infrastructure across the country in the next eight years.
The sustainability of small airdromes depends on continued operation. Therefore the revised UDAN scheme provides systematic operation and maintenance support for a period of three years. Its limit has been fixed at Rs 3.06 crore per year per airport and Rs 0.90 crore per year per heliport or water aerodrome. The estimated cost of this portion is Rs 2,577 crore and it is expected to support about 441 airports across the country.
In many parts of the country it is not always possible to create conventional airport infrastructure due to geographical constraints. The Modified UDAN Scheme proposes to build 200 modern helipads in priority areas where lack of connectivity is still a major problem. These facilities are expected to improve access to healthcare, aid emergency response operations and boost administrative and economic activities. The estimated cost of each helipad is Rs 15 crore. A total expenditure of Rs 3,661 crore is estimated for this part over eight years.
To help airline operators and promote route development in smaller markets, the scheme continues the provision of ‘Viability Gap Funding’ (VGF). Under the Modified UDAN Framework, a total of Rs 10,043 crore has been proposed for VGF over a period of ten years.
Airlines will get funding support for five years. The system of gradually reducing funding will start from the third year, while exclusivity on the route will remain for three years only. The objective of this structure is to strike a balance between market growth and gradual progress towards commercial sustainability (becoming commercially self-reliant).
In the revised UDAN scheme, special emphasis has also been laid on strengthening the domestic aviation capacity under the ‘Self-reliant India’ initiative. The scheme proposes two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air. These aircraft are designed to operate effectively even in difficult conditions and boost domestic manufacturing capacity.
–IANS
ASH/VC
