UDAN

Subject: Economy

Context:

Pawan Hans Limited launched the helicopter service on the new routeDehradun-New Tehri-Srinagar-Gauchar under the Central government’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik)

Concept:

• UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) is the Government’s initiative to make air travel to India’s tier II and tier III cities affordable to Common man.
• The idea is to put smaller cities and remote regions on the aviation map, by getting domestic airlines to ply more regional routes.
• Under the scheme, the Government offers incentives to airlines to flag off new flights to neglected smaller cities and towns by providing Viability Gap Funding to make these operations profitable.
• Airlines are required to bid for exclusive rights to fly on the regional routes opened up under the scheme.