The government has announced plans to operationalize 12 more airports across eight states and Union Territories by the end of this year.
Among the new additions is an airport at Shibpur in Car Nicobar, a significant step under the regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).
Since its inception in 2016, the UDAN scheme has already operationalized 579 routes connecting 85 airports, which includes 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
This impressive network aims to make flying accessible to the common man, a dream that is steadily becoming a reality.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated, "UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes." This dynamic approach ensures that the scheme remains adaptive and expansive.
"Revival and upgradation of unserved and underserved airports are undertaken upon identification through valid bids and awards to the selected airline operator," Minister Mohol explained.
This year, the scheme's ambitions include not just Shibpur in Car Nicobar but also a diverse list of locations: Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), Rewa and Datia (Madhya Pradesh), Amravati and Solapur (Maharashtra), Daman (Daman & Diu), Ambala (Haryana), Moradabad and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), and Vellore and Neyveli (Tamil Nadu).
Follow us
