Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), a total of 651 RCS routes have been initiated, linking 93 unserved and underserved airports, which includes 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes (as of November 30) throughout the nation, as stated to Parliament on Thursday.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, in response to a query in the Lok Sabha, noted that in Uttar Pradesh, 87 routes connecting 12 airports have been launched.
Additionally, the government has introduced a revised UDAN Scheme intended to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations nationwide, including in Uttar Pradesh, to accommodate 4 crore passengers over the coming decade.
This scheme is presently in the approval phase, the minister indicated.
According to the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy from 2008, any airport developer, which may include the state government, wishing to establish an airport must identify an appropriate site, conduct a Pre-Feasibility Study, and present a proposal to the Central Government for ‘Site Clearance,’ followed by ‘In-Principle‘ approval.
“Under this policy, the Government of India has provided ‘In-Principle’ approval for 24 greenfield airports across the country, out of which 13 airports are currently operational,” Naidu remarked.
The enhancement of infrastructure facilities and passenger amenities at airports is an ongoing effort pursued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the airport operators, in collaboration with the state governments, based on operational needs, traffic, demand, and commercial viability, among other factors.
Moreover, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) maintains aviation safety through a comprehensive oversight framework, which includes regular surveillance, spot inspections, and audits. It implements an Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) for inspections and ensures that issues identified during audits are addressed with verified corrective actions, the minister elaborated.
In the meantime, over 157 lakh passengers have benefited from the operation of 3.27 lakh UDAN flights that connect various locations across the country, including tier 2 cities.
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