Four years into its launch, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) has reaped tangible benefits by placing a number of airports on India’s aviation map. The RCS or UDAN, Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik, is aimed at providing affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes. Besides making travel affordable and accessible to all, the scheme aims to enhance inclusive national economic development, and the development of air transport infrastructure in all the regions.
Progress so far
As of September 2020, after three rounds of bidding, 688 valid routes have been awarded under the RCS, of which 281 routes have been operationalised. After suspension of domestic flight operations for two months, domestic air services including on RCS routes have recommenced with effect from May 25, 2020.
UDAN 4.0
The fourth round of UDAN was launched in December 2019 with a special focus on the Northeast, hilly and island states. The operation of helicopters and seaplanes has also been incorporated. Airports that had already been developed by AAI are being given higher priority for the award of viability gap funding (VGF) under the scheme. The authority has finalised the award of 78 routes identified in the first phase of round 4.0 of the RCS to the selected airline operators.
The approved routes are as follows: (to and from) Guwahati to Tezu, Tezu to Imphal, Guwahati to Rupsi, Rupsi to Kolkata, Bhopal to Bilaspur, Hissar to Dharamshala, Hissar to Chandigarh, Hissar to Dehradun, Kanpur (Chakeri) to Moradabad, Kanpur (Chakeri) to Aligarh, Kanpur (Chakeri) to Chitrakoot, Chitrakoot to Prayagraj/ Allahabad, Chitrakoot to Varanasi, Kanpur (Chakeri) to Shravasti, Shravasti to Varanasi, Shravasti to Prayagraj/Allahabad, Bareilly to Delhi, Cochin International Airport to Agatti, Aizawl to Tezpur, Agartala to Dibrugarh, Shillong to Passighat, Passighat to Guwahati, Guwahati to Tezpur, Guwahati to Misa (heliport), Misa (heliport) to Geleki, Geleki to Jorhat, Agatti to Minicoy, Agatti to Kavaratti, Guwahati to Shillong, Shillong to Dimapur, Imphal to Silchar, Agartala to Shillong, Shillong to Imphal, Shillong to Silchar, Dibrugarh to Shillong, Delhi to Shimla, Diu to Surat and Vadodara to Diu.
AAI is in the process of awarding these routes to the selected airline operators in line with the Act East Policy of the central government. Airline operators are required to conform to certain specifications for operating routes under the scheme, such as providing 50 per cent of the RCS flight capacity as RCS seats, with a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 40 RCS seats in an aircraft, and a minimum of three and a maximum of seven RCS flights to be operated in a week. Also, for operations in priority areas, the maximum number of RCS flights allowed in a week is relaxed to 14 and the operator is obligated to operate at least 70 per cent the total scheduled flights in a period of one year. The scheme is market-driven wherein airline operators assess the demand on the route and bid for it through a transparent bidding mechanism. Also, two heliports – Geleki and Misa – and two water aerodromes – Kavaratti and Minicoy – have been identified for operation of RCS flights under RCS-UDAN 4.0. Further, the development of another 14 water aerodromes is being planned under the RCS.
Infrastructure boost
Various measures are being taken to provide a significant boost to aviation infrastructure. Recently, the government has sanctioned Rs 1.08 billion under the RCS for the upgradation of three airports in Chhattisgarh – Jagdalpur, Ambikapur and Bilaspur.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had approved Alliance Air’s bid for the operation of an RCS flight from Bilaspur to Bhopal under UDAN 4.0, which is expected to commence shortly. Further, AAI has planned an investment of about Rs 9 billion to develop and expand Raipur airport including the expansion of the terminal building.
To boost regional connectivity in Jharkhand, AAI along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the state government, is set to initiate the construction of a new airport at Deoghar. The airport will be spread across 653.75 acres while the terminal building will be built across a 4,000 square metre area. It is to be designed with state-of-the-art passenger facilities. To link underserved and unserved airports through RCS routes, AAI has developed a new civil enclave at Bareilly airport. The interim terminal building, with an area 525 square metres, will be used for the commencement of RCS operations.
Lifeline UDAN
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Lifeline UDAN was launched to transport experts and equipment to every corner of the country (Northeast, hilly and island states). Airlines operated 588 flights, flew more than 500,000 km, and transported about 1,000 tonnes of essential cargo delivering testing kits and medical equipment to remote locations. Further, 1,928 tonnes of medical cargo was brought by Air India from abroad and 30 tonnes of medical cargo was supplied to friendly foreign countries (Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka).
The way forward
Under the RCS, AAI is planning to develop at least 100 airports, waterdromes and heliports by 2024. It also aims to develop no-frills airports in the future and the routes connecting such airports will be prioritised for awarding viability gap funding.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to operationalise around 1,000 routes in the next five years and plans to achieve this by focusing on operationalising routes in priority areas. Further, it aims to develop short-haul routes.