More UDAN routes to be allocated by August

The central government on Wednesday said that it will allocate more air routes under its regional connectivity scheme -- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) -- by August.

According to Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the government will soon launch the second round of bidding under RCS-UDAN after reciving stakeholders' views on some proposed changes to the scheme which are intended to make it simpler and attractive for participation.

The ministry will organise a stakeholders' consultation meet on June 7 and will accept their comments on the proposed changes by June 9, 2017.

Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey pointed out that at the same event, the ministry is planning to host an "interactive meet" between state governments and airlines for the second round of bidding for UDAN routes on July 7, 2017.

Choubey highlighted that six changes are mooted to be made in the scheme like considering routes between two airports which are neither under-served nor un-served.

"This is being proposed to further encourage intra-regional connectivity," the ministry said in a statement.

An under-served airport is defined as one which has no more than seven scheduled commercial flight departures per week, whereas an un-served airport or airstrip is the one which has not received even a single scheduled commercial service during the last two flight schedules.

Besides, the ministry has sought suggestions with regard to minimum number of RCS seats, fixed wing aircrafts operations below 150 km for specific areas and to make the exclusivity clause more flexible depending upon operators and rules.

Other changes proposed to be made include whether the "minimum number and maximum number of RCS seats" could be offered over a week's time rather than on a particular flight.

On April 27, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first Rs 2,500-an-hour flight between Shimla and New Delhi.

The scheme is a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released last year.

On March 30, 2017, the central government under the first round of bidding for the scheme awarded contracts to five companies to operate flight services on 128 routes that will connect 70 airports.

The airline companies chosen during the first round of bidding were Airline Allied Services (Alliance Air), SpiceJet, Turbo Megha Airways, Air Deccan and Air Odisha.

The objective of RCS, christened as UDAN is to enhance air passenger traffic in the country by stimulating demand on regional routes.

--IANS

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