Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)’ flight under the regional connectivity scheme on Shimla-Delhi sector on Thursday. Under the UDAN scheme, the fares of flights have been lessened at Rs 2,500 per hour.
“Earlier aviation was considered to be the domain of a select few. That has changed now. The lives of the middle class are being transformed and their aspirations are increasing. Given the right chance they can do wonders,” said PM Narendra Modi while flagging off the first UDAN flight.
The flight will be between Shimla and Delhi, the aviation ministry announced on Wednesday.
“Airfare for a 1-hour journey of almost 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs 2,500,” the PMO had said earlier. “This with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths and flight duration,” it added.
UDAN is a unique scheme worldwide to encourage regional connectivity through a market-based mechanism, said the PMO in a tweet.
The UDAN regional connectivity scheme was launched in October 2016 by aviation ministry. The government will offer air connectivity to un-served and underserved airports in the country under the scheme.
“The UDAN Scheme is a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 15th June, 2016.
The AAI followed a transparent bidding process by inviting interested bidders and airline operators to submit their Initial Proposals under the provisions of Regional Connectivity Scheme and subsequently inviting counter proposals against such Initial Proposals. The routes and networks are awarded to bidders who submitted valid proposals and quoted the lowest viability gap funding (VGF) from the government for such routes and networks,” added a release from the government.
