UDAN flights: Maharashtra government to restart services on 5 routes from February 13

Looking at increasing popularity of low cost air travel across the country under UDAN scheme, following the Central government's encouragement to such initiative to domestic airline firms as well as different state government, the Maharashtra government has decided to re-start UDAN services on five routes from February 13.   

The services will begin on the five routes, including Mumbai-Nashik, Mumbai-Jalgaon, Mumbai-Kolhapur, Mumbai-Solapur and Nashik-Pune, according to a government official, who added that these routes have been allotted to two airline companies of SpiceJet and TruJet (Turbo Mega).

The official told PTI, "After the UDAN scheme started, these routes were allotted to Air Deccan airline company. However, several complaints were received about the company violating norms. Despite issuing notice, it could not normalise services. Hence, its services were scrapped, and it was decided to appoint new airline companies on these routes." 

He said that two new routes Nashik-Prayagraj and Nashik-Hindon would also start soon, while adding that under the 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik' (UDAN) scheme, the state has selected nine airports including Nashik, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Amravati and Gondia.

The news agency was further informed that as many as 28 routes have been proposed in the state under the scheme, adding that the currently operational routes in the state include Nashik-Delhi, Nanded-Hyderabad, Mumbai-Nanded, Kolhapur-Hyderabad, Kolhapur-Bengaluru and Kolhapur-Hubli.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commenced the UDAN scheme in April 2017, and under it, 50 per cent seats in aeroplanes are offered at concessional rates to passengers. In case of these seats remaining vacant, the Centre and the respective state offer subsidy in the form of Value Gap Funding (VGF) to the airline firm to compensate the loss.

It is a regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) aimed at making air travel affordable. As part of this scheme, no other airline is allowed to operate that particular route, thereby protecting the operating company's business interest.