Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet recently approved the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Modified UDAN for a 10-year period from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
Components of the RCS-Modified UDAN
Total outlay of ₹28,840 crore, backed entirely by government budgetary support.
- Development of Aerodromes (CAPEX): Development of 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips over the next eight years.
- Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Support: Provision of O&M support for three years to ~ 441 aerodromes, capped at ₹3.06 crore per annum per airport and ₹0.90 crore per annum per heliport/water aerodrome.
- Development of Modern Helipads: Construction of 200 modern helipads in hilly, remote, island, and aspirational regions at ₹15 crore each.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Recognising the need for longer market development, VGF support to airline operators is proposed over 10 years.
- Under the Scheme, airline operators receive financial support in the form of VGF for operating awarded routes.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat and Indigenous Aviation Capacity: Procurement of two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air to address aircraft shortages in difficult terrains and promote Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Key features of the scheme
- Comprehensive Intervention: Designed as an upgrade to the original scheme to address persistent infrastructure and operational bottlenecks in regional aviation.
- Ecosystem Approach: Moves beyond just opening new routes by focusing on stronger airport infrastructure, reliable operational support, and viable ecosystems for airlines.
- Challenge Mode Implementation: UDAN airports will be developed under a 'Challenge Mode' to ensure timely completion, quality, and sustainability.
- Indigenous Push: Integrates the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by promoting the domestic aerospace sector to meet regional flying requirements.
Issues and Challenges associated with the UDAN
- Aviation Safety Concerns: A Parliamentary Standing Committee highlighted systemic safety issues, including:
- 100 safety lapses flagged in a single airline audit and 19 safety violation notices,
- Recurring technical defects in 377 out of 754 audited aircraft.
- The recent Ahmedabad crash resulted in 260 fatalities.
- Route Sustainability: The Ministry has acknowledged the absence of a structured exit strategy for routes that complete their VGF subsidy period.
- Operational Discontinuations: Out of 925 awarded routes, 327 were discontinued due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft shortages, supply chain disruptions, maintenance issues, and low passenger demand.
- Over 150 awarded routes remain uncommenced.
- Manpower Shortages: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) faces a severe staff crunch with a vacancy rate of 48.3%, operating with only 843 incumbents against 1,630 sanctioned posts.
- Passenger Rights: Despite carrying over 350 million passengers annually, India lacks a comprehensive statutory passenger rights framework to govern compensation and delay management.
Way Forward
Recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee
- Independent Safety Review: Constitute an independent High-Level Committee on Aviation Safety to conduct a comprehensive safety review and perform a root-cause analysis of systemic failures.
- Formal Impact Assessment: Conduct a formal, independent impact assessment of the UDAN scheme covering cost per passenger, route-wise viability, and the proportion of routes achieving self-sustainability.
- DGCA Capacity Building: Prepare and execute a comprehensive, time-bound recruitment and deputation schedule to resolve DGCA manpower vacancies.
- Passenger Rights Charter: Develop a formal Passenger Rights Charter under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024 to address compensation, delay management, and accountability standards.
- Enhanced Transparency: Improve parliamentary visibility of the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) capital investment programmes.
About UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme
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