RCS-UDAN marks 6 years of success

The government-backed initiative, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), which aims to enhance infrastructure and connectivity in India, particularly in remote and underserved areas, has completed six years. This scheme is an integral part of India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, initiated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on October 21, 2016, with a vision spanning over a decade. Prime Minister inaugurated the first RCS-UDAN flight on April 27, 2017, linking Shimla to Delhi. The focus of this initiative is to enhance air routes in regions lacking services, thereby fulfilling the common citizens' aspirations. RCS-UDAN has successfully facilitated travel for over 130 lakh passengers, proving its effectiveness in improving air travel accessibility. Over the six-year period, several versions of the UDAN Scheme were launched: UDAN 1.0: 5 airline companies were granted 128 flight routes to 70 airports, including 36 newly operational airports. UDAN 2.0: 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced, and helipads were connected for the first time. UDAN 3.0: Tourism Routes were introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. Seaplanes for Water Aerodromes and numerous routes in the North-East Region were included. UDAN 4.0: Special focus was given to North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands. Operations of helicopters and seaplanes were incorporated. UDAN Version 5 ? 5.0, 5.1, and 5.2: Following the success of four bidding rounds, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the 5th version of RCS-UDAN, incorporating several improvements based on feedback from stakeholders.