What is UDAN Scheme?
India is the world’s third-largest market in the aviation sector. The objective of the UDAN scheme is to connect small and medium cities with big cities through air service. Under the UDAN scheme, the airfare for a one-hour journey by a ’fixed wing aircraft’ or half an hour’s journey by a helicopter for about 500 km, has been fixed at Rs.2500/-.
•Aviation companies bid for air routes. The company that asks for the lowest subsidy is awarded the contract. Under this fare for each flight, the airline has to book half, or a minimum of 9, or a maximum of 40 seats.
•Along with this, through this scheme, the I*Iodi government wants to connect the small cities of the country with the airplane facility.
•Currently, traveling by taxi in the country costs an average of Rs 10 per kilometer. But in the UDAN Scheme, the fare for 500 km air travel has been fixed at Rs 2500 only. That is, about Rs 5 per km, which is less than the taxi travel cost. This means, through the UDAN scheme, people’s time and money are also saved.
How did “UDAAN” start
- To boost air traffic in India, 70 years after independence, to fulfill the common citizen’s dream of air travel, in the year 2016, the Union Government for the first time announced the country’s National Civil Aviation Policy, and the UDAN Scheme was the most important. component of this Policy. UDAN… is the abbreviation for ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik’.
2. In an important meeting held before the announcement of the National Civil Aviation Policy, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had said, “One of the hallmarks of a poor person in our country is that he wears slippers (Chappal). I want people wearing slippers to be seen on the plane.”
Three-Way Benefits
- Employment :
Employment is created in the sectors like Airport Operation, Aircraft Maintenance, Air Traffic Control, and Technical Staff. In the airline
industry, a ratio of 100 employees is assumed. viz the introduction of an additional aircraft employs 100 people.
2. Tourism :
To promote tourism, 51 important tourist destinations have been selected under the UDAN scheme. Out of this, 31 routes have been
operationalized.
3 . Business :
To promote tourism, 51 important tourist destinations have been selected under the UDAN scheme. Out of this, 31 routes have been
operationalized.
