International UDAN: Govt likely to begin air connectivity to overseas destinations this week

After witnessing huge success of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) services in the country, the government is toying with the idea to commence air connectivity to select overseas destinations at affordable costs. An official at the Civil Aviation Ministry said that international routes under UDAN are likely to be announced in the first week of December, said a PTI report.

The government is likely to announce this week and the routes under the international version of air connectivity scheme would operate from Guwahati, said the report, citing a senior official.

Proposals for selection of airlines under the International Air Connectivity Scheme -- IACS UDAN -- were reportedly invited in October. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on behalf of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Assam government reportedly invited bids for the international version of UDAN.

According to the draft IACS, the scheme is to be made operational only for those states that demonstrate their commitment to implement and provide the requisite support for promoting operations.

In 2017, the Assam government had offered to provide Rs 100 crore as viability gap funding towards extension of the UDAN for international air connectivity from Guwahati.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has awarded more than 450 domestic routes under the UDAN to various operators in two rounds since March 2017, besides working on the third round of the scheme.

The official cited earlier repirtedly said that routes to be awarded under UDAN 3 are likely to be finalised by end of this month. 

An International Air Connectivity Fund (IACF) for providing financial support to airlines participating in the scheme will be set up.

Notably, UDAN was announced in October 2016, seeking to connect unserved and under-served airports in the country as well as make flying affordable by capping fares at Rs 2,500 for a one-hour flight.

Meanwhile, the Centre today announced the expansion of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIAP) with an investment of Rs 930 crore.

Rajiv Narayan Choubey, Union Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, made the announcement in Bhubaneswar, after a meeting with Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi.

Choubey said the third terminal of the BPIAP will come up soon and the Centre has decided to start work on the project from July next year. With the expansion, the passenger handling capacity of BPIAP will reportedly increase from 35 lakh passengers to 80 lakh passengers.