Kothagudem airport not listed in UDAN scheme document

Kothagudem airport has not been included in the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN ) scheme document's tentative list of underserved and unserved airports, According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh said UDAN was a market-driven ongoing scheme in response to a question from TRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao and other members of the Lok Sabha. The implementing agency, AAI, has been bidding under UDAN regularly to award routes to Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) to connect more unserved and underserved airports across the country.

Under the Revival of unserved and underserved airports scheme, an airport that is included in the awarded routes of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) requires up-gradation or development to begin RCS operations.

The Indian government has approved a budget of Rs 4,500 crore for the revival of existing unserved, underserved airports or airstrips owned by state governments, the Airports Authority of India, public sector undertakings, and civil enclaves. This scheme has so far released Rs 2,062.50 crore in funds.

As of December 14, 2021, AAI had awarded 948 UDAN routes, 403 of which had already begun, connecting 65 UDAN airports, including two water aerodromes and eight heliports. Two UDAN routes in West Bengal and forty UDAN routes in Telangana have been operationalized so far by the SAOs.

For various reasons, including non-readiness of civil airports or heliports, which may be related to availability of land, creation of regional infrastructure, obtaining a licence from the Regulator, etc, unsustainable operation on the awarded routes, and adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, some routes have been delayed or discontinued.

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