Budget 2020: 100 more airports to be developed by 2025 under UDAN scheme
Under UDAN, airlines compete to win subsidies to operate flights that link small airports with bigger onesAt present, 232 routes across 43 cities and towns connect 137 small cities under the Regional Connectivity Scheme
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced that the government plans to set up 100 more airports by 2025 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), also known as UDAN or Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik.
Under the program, airlines compete to win subsidies for operating flights linking small airports with the bigger ones. The scheme, launched in October 2017, is now in its fourth phase. At present, 232 routes across 43 cities and towns connect 137 small cities under the RCS.
Currently, state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages 125 airports in the country including 11 international airports.
Sitharaman also proposed launching a separate Krishi UDAN scheme, which will improve connectivity with the country’s northeast region.
She also announced rolling out a Kisan Rail project that will be implemented through a public private partnership as part of the government's efforts to boost connectivity with rural India.
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