Narendra Modi to Launch First Udan Flight Today – Explore in Detail

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, is going to flag off on cheap flight scheme named 'Udan' on Thursday. The scheme aims to boost the regional connectivity between various destinations of India through low-cost airlines.

Our honorable PM will launch a flight on Shimla-Delhi route as well as on Kadapa-Hyderabad and the Nanded-Hyderabad sectors. He shared this information to media on Wednesday.

Narendra Modi is going to launch the scheme from Shimla. Udan actually means “Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik”, which is first-of-its-kinds of scheme in any part of the world to increase regional connectivity through a market-based mechanism.

As per the PM, Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik RCS (regional connectivity scheme) was started on in October, 2016 to make air travel accessible for the travelers staying in regionally important areas. The Udan Scheme is an essential part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released on 15th June, 2016.

"Airfare for a 1-hour journey of about 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs. 2, 500," said Mr. Narendra Modi "This with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths and flight duration," he added further.

Within this scheme, there are five airlines that will provide its services on 128 different routes connecting 70 airports, out of which 31 are not served and 12 are under-served. The airline service providers for these routes are Air India's subsidiary Airline Allied Services, SpiceJet, Air Deccan, Air Odisha and Turbo Megha. They will operate aircrafts of 19 to 78 seats.

Flights operated by these airlines would connect airports from more than 20 states and union territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Airports of the destinations that will be connected under this scheme are Bhatinda, Bilaspur, Cooch Behar, Neyveli, Nanded, Shimla and Kadapa.

50% of the seats of the selected airlines would have a limit of Rs 2,500 per seat/hour. Airline Allied Services would offer services on 15 routes, while SpiceJet on 11, Turbo Megha Airways on 18, Air Deccan on 34 and Air Odisha Aviation on 50 sectors.

Under Udan scheme, the operators would be extended viability gap funding. Money will be somewhat raised through a levy of around Rs 8,500 on flights operating on major routes like Delhi and Mumbai for this. The estimate of the viability gap funding amount has been calculated around Rs 205 crore per annum for the operators selected in the first round of order. The viability gap funding would be in position for three years for the airlines related to the scheme from the date of starting operations in the special Udan route.

The scheme also offers various benefits, including no airport charges and 3-years exclusivity on the routes. With timely payment of viability gap funding, operators would be able to sustain their operations. While in being Shimla, the Prime Minister of India will also speak to a rally at the famous Ridge Maidan of the city.

This is going to be the first visit of Mr. Narendra Modi to Shimla on becoming PM. Last time, he had visited the city in 2003 during his service term as CM of Gujarat. Mr. Modi was also in-charge of the organizational affairs of Himachal Pradesh for 8 years till 2002. It is great news for the citizens of small towns who can now fly at really affordable rates to preferred locations at exciting rates on flight tickets. Are you happy with this step? You should be as your dream of flying is going to be true soon.