New Delhi (NVI): In an endeavour to connect the unconnected regions, 22 new routes have been operationalised in the last 3 days under the UDAN scheme out of which 6 new routes have been operationalised in North-East India.
In this regard, the first direct flight from Shillong (Meghalaya) to Agartala (Tripura) under the scheme was flagged off today after the successful commencement of the flight operations on Shillong (Meghalaya)- Silchar (Assam) route yesterday, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The operationalisation of these routes aligns with the objectives of UDAN scheme to strengthen the aerial network of the country, create affordable, yet economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes, the statement read.
“Till date, 57 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports + 2 water aerodrome) with 347 routes have been operationalised under UDAN across the length and breadth of India,” it added.
Meanwhile, on March 28, 18 new routes were flagged off under the scheme.
The routes that commenced operations were Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) to Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) which is a state supported UDAN route, Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) to Bangalore (Karnataka), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Chennai (Tamil Nadu), from Agra (Uttar Pradesh) to Bangalore (Karnataka) & Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), from Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) to Bhubaneswar (Odisha) & Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). In addition to these routes, new flight connectivity was established from Dibrugarh (Assam) to Dimapur (Nagaland).
Last year, Indigo airlines was awarded the Shillong-Agartala, Shillong – Silchar, Kurnool – Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam, and Chennai routes under the UDAN 4 bidding process.
In addition to these, Agra to Bangalore and Agra to Bhopal route under UDAN 3, Prayagraj to Bhubaneswar and Prayagraj to Bhopal route under UDAN 2, and Dibrugarh to Dimapur were awarded under UDAN 3 bidding process to Indigo.
Furthermore, Alliance Air was awarded the Lucknow – Gorakhpur route under the UDAN 3 bidding process.
-CHK
