Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
India, with its vast geographical expanse and diverse socio-economic landscape, faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable regional development. Air connectivity, often considered a catalyst for economic growth, remains limited to major metropolitan cities, leaving many regions underserved. This disparity hinders economic opportunities, tourism, and access to essential services. Recognizing this gap, the Government of India launched the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme in 2016, aiming to make flying affordable and accessible to all citizens, thereby boosting regional connectivity.
The Need for Expanding Regional Air Connectivity
Expanding regional air connectivity is crucial for several reasons:
- Economic Growth: Improved air links facilitate faster movement of goods and people, attracting investment, promoting tourism, and creating employment opportunities in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
- Social Inclusion: Air connectivity can bridge the gap between remote and urban areas, providing access to healthcare, education, and other essential services.
- National Integration: Enhanced connectivity fosters greater interaction and understanding between different regions, strengthening national unity.
- Disaster Management: Air connectivity is vital for swift response and relief operations during natural disasters.
- Reduced Travel Time: Significantly reduces travel time compared to road and rail, increasing productivity and efficiency.
Currently, a significant portion of India’s population lacks access to affordable air travel, limiting their economic and social mobility.
UDAN Scheme: Objectives and Mechanism
The UDAN scheme, launched under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), aims to connect unserved and underserved airports and airstrips across the country. Key features include:
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF): The government provides financial support to airlines to cover the initial losses on regional routes.
- Competitive Bidding: Airlines bid for routes, with the lowest bidder receiving the VGF.
- Route Prioritization: Routes are prioritized based on their potential for socio-economic impact.
- Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF): A fund is created through a levy on domestic airfares to finance the VGF.
The scheme operates in multiple phases:
| Phase | Routes Awarded | Airports Connected (Approx.) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 128 | 35 | 2017-2019 |
| Phase 2 | 325 | 65 | 2018-2020 |
| Phase 3 | 424 | 98 | 2021-2024 |
| Phase 4 | 97 | N/A | 2022-2026 |
UDAN also includes provisions for helicopter operations, seaplane services, and the development of water aerodromes.
Achievements and Challenges of UDAN
Achievements:
- Increased Connectivity: UDAN has significantly increased the number of operational airports and air routes in the country. As of December 2023, over 115 airports are connected under the scheme.
- Affordable Fares: The scheme has led to a reduction in airfares on regional routes, making flying more accessible to the common citizen.
- Boost to Tourism: Improved air connectivity has boosted tourism in several regions, particularly in the Northeast and hilly states.
- Employment Generation: The scheme has created employment opportunities in the aviation sector and related industries.
Challenges:
- Operational Issues: Some airlines have faced challenges in maintaining operations on regional routes due to high operating costs and low passenger demand.
- Infrastructure Constraints: Many regional airports lack adequate infrastructure, such as runways, terminals, and air traffic control facilities.
- VGF Disbursement Delays: Delays in the disbursement of VGF have sometimes hampered the smooth implementation of the scheme.
- Sustainability Concerns: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of regional routes remains a challenge.
Conclusion
The UDAN scheme represents a significant step towards achieving inclusive growth and regional development through enhanced air connectivity. While the scheme has achieved considerable success in connecting underserved regions and making flying more affordable, addressing the existing challenges related to infrastructure, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability is crucial for its long-term success. Continued government support, coupled with private sector participation, will be essential to unlock the full potential of regional air connectivity in India.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.