The Govt has identified 24 routes in Assam under UDAN 4. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the implementing agency, has identified following UDAN airports/heliports/water aerodromes for operation of UDAN flights in Assam: Jorhat, Lilabari, Tezpur and Rupsi. The heliports identified are: Nagaon, Misa and eleki. Water aerodrome identified are Guwahati River Front and Umrangso Reservoir.
The broad salient features for routes under UDAN are demand driven, affordability of airfare, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to selected airline operators (SAOs), minimum performance level of UDAN flights by the SAOs, exclusivity of operation on UDAN routes and focus on priority areas i.e NER, Hilly Sates and Islands.
Viability Gap Funding is provided to the Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) for operating UDAN flights under the scheme. Airports Authority of India, the implementing agency has disbursed Rs. 79,60,680 to SAO for operating UDAN flights in Assam so far.
The Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) under UDAN are obligated to commence RCS flight operations on a RCS-route within a period of six months from the issuance of Letter of Award or within two months from the readiness of airport, whichever is later, unless any extension is granted by the Implementing Agency.
This information was given in a written reply by Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) Civil Aviation, in Lok Sabha yesterday.
