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Following four successful rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), in May, this year, the Ministry of Civil Aviation introduced UDAN 5.1, tailored to focus on helicopter routes.
Marking another milestone, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, inaugurated UDAN 5.2 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh yesterday.
According to the government, the launch of UDAN 5.2, will enhance connectivity to remote and underserved regions of the country. The scheme is geared towards achieving last-mile connectivity through small aircraft, specifically those with 1A (<9 seats) and Category 1 (<20 seats).
Minister Scindia announced that under UDAN 5.2, a total of 22 new routes have been awarded, ensuring that air travel facilities reach citizens in even the most far-flung areas of the nation.
In general, the UDAN scheme has proved to be a game-changer, benefiting passengers with improved air connectivity, offering airlines concessions for regional routes, and empowering previously unserved regions with direct and indirect economic development advantages. The current version of the scheme takes another stride towards enabling affordable air travel for the common man, reaching the most remote destinations across the country.
The UDAN 5.2 was inaugurated on the sidelines of much-anticipated Heli Summit 2023. The 5th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit, aptly themed “Reaching the Last Mile: Regional Connectivity through Helicopters & Small Aircraft,” brought together a diverse consortium of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Ltd., and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The approved list of Greenfield airports includes Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan, and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Pakyong in Sikkim, among others. These developments come in the wake of the success of the Regional Connectivity UDAN Scheme.
Attended by the stakeholders, industry leaders and policymakers, the Summit aimed to foster critical discussions and deliberations on the burgeoning growth of the Indian Helicopter and Small Aircraft industry.Speaking at the event, Scindia emphasised the democratisation of India’s civil aviation over the past years. He acknowledged the significance of not only major airports and airlines but also the crucial role played by small town airports, regional airlines, and helicopters in expanding the industry’s reach.
Additionally, Minister Scindia also introduced the innovative HeliSewa mobile application, a one-stop solution for helicopter operators and district authorities to streamline approvals and enhance user experience. The HeliSewa Portal, an initiative under Digital India, aims to revolutionise the ecosystem between helicopter operators and district authorities, making air travel more convenient and accessible.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between Pawan Hans and Jetserve during the event, symbolising a new era of collaboration.
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