🔆 UDAN 5.5 (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) SCHEME ✅ About UDAN Scheme • Launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for regional airport development and regional connectivity enhancement. • Part of the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016. • Objectives: • To improve air connectivity to remote and regional areas of India. • To make flights accessible and affordable in tier-2 and tier-3 towns. 🔆 Key Features of UDAN Scheme ✅ Airlines have to cap airfares for 50% of the total seats at ₹2,500 per hour of flight. • Achieved through: • Financial stimulus from central and state governments and airport operators. • Viability Gap Funding (VGF): A government grant to bridge the gap between the cost of operations and expected revenue. • Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF): Created to meet the viability gap funding requirements under the scheme. • Partner State Governments to contribute a 20% share to this fund: • UTs and NER states contribute only 10%. • Krishi UDAN: Value realization of agricultural products in Northeastern Region (NER) and tribal districts. • International UDAN routes for NER to explore International Connectivity from Guwahati and Imphal. 🔆 The Latest Phase: UDAN 5.5 ✅ UDAN 5.5 is aimed to promote last-mile connectivity in remote regions, hilly areas, and island territories. • Focus: Routes to be serviced exclusively with sea-planes, choppers, and small aircraft with a seating capacity of less than 20 passengers. • Operators will get a chance to chart seaplane routes between 80 water bodies, including watercourses, ponds, and dams. • Around 400 helipads are also included in the scheme for operators to map out the routes. • Allows the participation of operators of aircraft in categories such as: • Category 1A: Seats less than 9 passengers. • Category 1: Seats less than 20 passengers. #udan #regionalconnectivity #governmentschemes