NITI Aayog will assess the UDAN program's feasibility

10 Jul 2023 , 11:24 AM

The regional connectivity program known as UDAN will be evaluated by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation unit (DMEO), an associated unit of NITI Aayog. The monitoring organization has released a request for proposals (RFP) for the scheme review, which is scheduled to begin later this year.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) is the government’s scheme for developing regional airports, and it includes UDAN. Its objectives are to lower the cost of air travel and advance India’s economic growth.

The assessment study will, per the RfP document, identify gaps and challenges in areas connected to airport operations, management, and development while giving research and economic perspectives on all project-related aspects.

‘The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, intends to engage a consultancy firm to support in the evaluation study of Regional Connectivity Scheme,’ it stated in the paper.

The statement further stated that ‘DMEO, NITI Aayog invites proposals for this assignment from national and international firms, organizations, and institutions that have the necessary experience in this field.’

The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016 review served as the basis for the formulation of RCS-UDAN, which was intended to be in effect for ten years. The program went into effect in 2017.

 With the creation of the Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF), it has a self-financing mechanism. In accordance with this plan, RCF was established, and it uses a fee on specific domestic flights to pay for the VGF requirements of the plan. In this approach, the sector itself generates revenues to support its own growth and development.

954 routes connecting 156 airports have already been awarded under UDAN.

By 2026, the government hopes to have completed 220 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes with 1000 routes, connecting all of the country’s disconnected locations.

The country’s regional aviation connectivity has considerably improved thanks to UDAN over the past five years. The government claims that the UDAN program is to blame for the country’s increase of functioning airports, which went from 74 in 2014 to 141 by 2022.

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