In News:

• The Government of India has launched UDAN 5.5, the latest phase of its flagship regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (UdeDesh ka AamNaagrik).
• It aims to enhance last-mile air connectivity in remote, hilly, and island regions using smaller aircraft, helicopters, and seaplanes.

About UDAN Scheme

• Launched: 2016, under the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Purpose: To make air travel affordable, accessible, and widespread, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns.

Objectives

• Provide affordable air travel to the common citizen.
• Improve air connectivity in unserved and underserved regions.
• Promote regional development and economic integration.

Key Features

• Fare Cap: ?2,500 per hour of flight for 50% of seats (about 500 km distance).
• Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
  • Provided to airlines to cover shortfalls between operational cost and revenue.
  • Financed via Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF).
• Government Contribution to VGF:
  • State Governments: 20%
  • Union Territories & North-Eastern Region (NER) States: 10%
• Support Measures: Concessions from Central/State Governments and airport operators.

Special Variants Under UDAN

• Lifeline UDAN: For transporting medical cargo during COVID-19.
• Krishi UDAN: For agricultural produce value realization, especially from NER and tribal districts.
• International UDAN: To connect NER cities like Guwahati and Imphal with international destinations.

UDAN 5.5 – Key Highlights

• Focuses on last-mile connectivity in challenging terrains where traditional aviation is impractical.
• Aircraft Types Allowed:
  • Category 1A: < 9 seats
  • Category 1: < 20 seats
• Operational Modes:
  • Seaplanes: Use of 80 water bodies including waterdromes, ponds, dams.
  • Helicopters: Routes mapped from 400 helipads nationwide.
  • Small Aircraft: Routes specifically for aircraft under 20-passenger capacity.
• Encourages air taxi and niche aviation operators.

Achievements of UDAN (as of 2024)

• Passenger Impact: Enabled travel for over 1.5 crore passengers.
• Flight Operations: Over 2.8 lakh UDAN flights completed.
• Route Expansion: 619 routes operationalized, including helicopter routes.
• Airport Growth: Number of operational airports doubled from 74 in 2014 to over 157 in 2024.
• Destinations Connected:
  • 68 unserved/underserved destinations added: includes 58 airports, 8 heliports, 2 water aerodromes.

Future Scope

• Current Challenges:
  • India currently has no active seaplane services.
  • Fewer than 20 small aircraft (Category A1) in operation.
• Projected Developments (next 5 years):
  • Establishment of 50+ seaplane routes.
  • Creation of 20–25 water aerodromes.
  • Induction of around 30 new aircraft for regional connectivity.