Govt unveils 128 routes for Regional Connectivity; first flight to take off next month

​In a move to connect the regional areas with unserved and underserved airports, the Ministry of Civil Aviation unveiled 128 routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) on Thursday.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Civil Aviation Minister along with Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation at a press conference in New Delhi said that five regional airlines have been selected.

While unveiling the map of regionally connected India, Civil Aviation Secretary, RN Choubey said, “The first flight under RCS will take place in April.”

"First flight under Regional Connectivity Scheme will take place in April" - Civil Aviation Secretary pic.twitter.com/QXCIpufFdM

— Frank Noronha (@DG_PIB) March 30, 2017

“The initial proposals cover 65 airports, of which 52 are unserved and 13 underserved,” The Hindu quoted the Ministry of Civil Aviation in a report on Friday.

Air Odisha, SpiceJet, Air Deccan, TruJet and Alliance Air have featured in the government’s Udan plan.

The shortlisted routes have been listed as follows.

New #UDAN routes awarded on 30.03.2017 (1/5) pic.twitter.com/CpT0TCXJrM

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) March 30, 2017

New #UDAN routes awarded on 30.03.2017 (2/5) pic.twitter.com/AZKsv7iJaw

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) March 30, 2017

New #UDAN routes awarded on 30.03.2017 (3/5) pic.twitter.com/tiCWd3CRtk

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) March 30, 2017

New #UDAN routes awarded on 30.03.2017 (4/5) pic.twitter.com/x1AuNPoMHs

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) March 30, 2017

New #UDAN routes awarded on 30.03.2017 (5/5) pic.twitter.com/GHT4kc8WE0

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) March 30, 2017

RCS which sought to provide air services between un-served and under-served areas, was part of larger plans to boost the domestic aviation sector.

Seeing as how there were 394 un-served and 16 under-served airports in India, Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi, advocated affordable air travel along with improving connectivity to remote regions like North-East India.

"The VGF of Rs 205 crore this year would mean around Rs 50 extra for a passenger on a non-regional route," Secretary, Civil Aviation added.

Gajapathi in a tweet said, “Udan network will cover the whole country, giving a major economic boost to hinterland areas.”

"Criteria on the basis of which airlines were selected was extent of #VGF - viability gap funding - demanded by them" - @jayantsinha pic.twitter.com/g9siRxCae9

— Frank Noronha (@DG_PIB) March 30, 2017