3 hrs ago
Centre Targets Completion of All UDAN State Pacts Soon
The government is expanding a program called UDAN to improve air travel between different parts of India.
Twenty-one states have already signed agreements for the next phase.
West Bengal is expected to sign its agreement on September 28.
The government hopes to finish all the remaining agreements in two or three weeks.
UDAN has helped open more than 90 airports and supported cheaper flights for many passengers.
The program will continue for another 10 years.
The government plans to spend nearly Rs 30,000 crore on it, with additional money possibly coming from states and others.
Officials are also checking SpiceJet’s operations and finances to help protect passengers and prevent disruptions.
Twenty-one states have signed UDAN memoranda with the Civil Aviation Ministry, while West Bengal is scheduled to sign on September 28.
The Centre expects to complete all remaining state agreements within two to three weeks.
The extended UDAN scheme will run for another decade, with nearly Rs 30,000 crore planned in government investment.
The earlier phase operationalised more than 90 airports and subsidised travel for about 1.54 crore passengers.
The government is monitoring SpiceJet and aims to support at least five airlines with fleets of 100 or more aircraft.
- Who
- The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, state governments and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
- What
- The Centre is completing state agreements for the next phase of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme and extending the program for another decade.
- Where
- Across India, involving participating states and regional airports.
- When
- The remaining agreements are expected to be completed within two to three weeks; West Bengal is scheduled to sign on September 28.
- Why
- To expand regional air connectivity, speed up airport construction and meet projected growth in passenger demand.
Key facts
- States with signed MoUs
- 21 states
- West Bengal signing
- Scheduled for September 28
- UDAN extension
- Another 10 years
- Earlier airport impact
- More than 90 airports operationalised
- Earlier passenger reach
- Around 1.54 crore passengers received subsidised connectivity
- Planned government investment
- Nearly Rs 30,000 crore over 10 years
- Projected economic impact
- Up to Rs 60,000 crore
- SpiceJet support
- Rs 150 crore disbursed under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
Quotes
Ram Mohan Naidu
Union minister for civil aviation
“We have extended it for 10 more years, taking some observations from the earlier UDAN. Rather than taking all the airports at once, we have created a system where the most important ones go on a challenge mode to increase the speed with which the airports are getting constructed”
financialexpress.com
“On the 28th we have the MoU signing with West Bengal also, and the other states are just trying to finalise the MoU document so very soon, probably in two to three weeks, we are going to close all the MoUs”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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