Inter-ministerial panel to monitor UDAN

Government has formed an inter-ministerial committee to monitor the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik). The main responsibility of this committe would be to coordinate between stakeholders and state government for 'time bound' implementation of the scheme. This could be a supportive step towards the growth of Indian aviation sector, nineth largest civil aviation market in the world.

According to a notification, the committee would be responsible for 'overall monitoring of the schemes of promotion of regional connectivity by way of revival of unserved and under-served airports/airstrips and RCS-UDAN'.

Under the UDAN scheme, the civil aviation ministry has already awarded 128 routes connecting 70 airports to five airlines, including SpiceJet and an Air India subsidiary. Airfares would be capped at Rs. 2500 for a one hour flight for the flights operated under RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme). The flight operators are planning for viability gap funding, for which partial money would be raised through a levy of up to Rs. 8500 on flights operating in major routes like Delhi and Mumbai.

As per the view of civil aviation minister, UDAN scheme will have a positive effect on the economy, in terms of employment and investment. India's domestic air passenger traffic grew at a record breaking rate of 23 per cent in 2016 which is highest amongst the world.