Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, launched UDAN or Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik scheme. This aims at increasing regional connectivity by a market based mechanism. The Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, tweeted “Tomorrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first UDAN flight on Shimla-Delhi sector.” In a continuing tweet, they wrote, “Simultaneously, PM Modi will also flag off the inaugural UDAN flights on Kadapa–Hyderabad and Nanded-Hyderabad sectors.”
The PMO said that through this planned airfare for one hour journey, which covers 500 kms, on an aircraft and 30 minutes of flight on the helicopter will be charged at Rs. 2,500. The government also said that they will extend subsidy by funding the operators flying on these routes.
Tomorrow PM @narendramodi will flag off the first UDAN flight under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, on Shimla-Delhi sector.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 26, 2017
Simultaneously, PM @narendramodi will also flag off the inaugural UDAN flights on Kadapa–Hyderabad and Nanded-Hyderabad sectors.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 26, 2017
This scheme will be launched from Shimla, which makes it the PM’s first visit to Shimla after taking charge as the Prime Minister. This will also mark the launch of reopening the Jubbarhatti airport, which is located 22 km from Shimla and was shut down for scheduled flights from September 2012.
UDAN makes air travel accessible to a wider range of citizens & enhances connectivity with many more airports across India. pic.twitter.com/X2wVIq6130
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2017
UDAN, released on June 15, 2016, is a prominent part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP). Amidst this, Trujet, regional airlines announced the introduction of three new routes from Hyderabad-Cuddapah, Hyderabad-Nanded and Nanded-Mumbai routes. The fleet has recently extended to four planes with the introduction of ATR-72 aircraft.
Trujet is also one of the operators, who acquired UDAN schemes 128 routes. The other operators include Air Odisha, SpiceJet, Air India subsidiary Airline Allied Services, Turbo Megha (Holding company of Trujet), and Air Deccan. The seating capacity varies from 19 to 78 passengers per plane.
