New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS): The Central government on Friday awarded contracts to 11 companies to operate fixed-wing and seaplane services under the third round of air regional connectivity "Udan" scheme connecting destinations like Ambala, Amravati, Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar among others.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued "Letter of Awards" for 73 proposals involving 235 regional connectivity scheme (RCS) and water aerodrome routes which were received under the third round of RCS-Udan.
This is the first time that proposals for connecting tourist destinations and seaplane services have been awarded. In the current scheme, the support fund for routes connecting tourist destinations will be provided by the Ministry of Tourism.
Subsequently, flight operations are expected to connect destinations like Kushinagar, Jharsuguda, Saharanpur(Sarsawa), Guwahati River Front, Nagarjuna Sagar, Statue of Unity in Gujarat among others.
According to the ministry, 16 unserved and 17 underserved airports, along with 6 water aerodromes and 50 served airports would be connected based on the proposals identified for the award.
Geographical spread-wise, out of the 235, 189 comprise of RCS and 46 tourism routes would be connected across 29 states in the country.
As per the ministry's data, the awarded proposals would add another 69.30 lakh seats annually across the RCS routes with more than 1 lakh annual seats through seaplanes and more than 15 lakh annual seats on tourism routes.
At an event here to award the contracts, Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said that some of the allotted routes will connect islands and other far-flung places to the mainland through air services.
He further said that a "3.5" version of the scheme will be launched. In the special round, those routes will be allotted which in the opinion of state governments would connect remote areas which have not yet been covered.
In addition, the ministry announced the launch of a standalone international version of the scheme with viability gap funding provided by the respective state governments.
The first standalone variant of the scheme will see Guwahati being connected to Bangkok and Dhaka. The air services will be supported by the VGF provided by the state government.
In the second phase, contracts to 15 companies were awarded for 90 proposals involving around 325 regional connectivity routes.
Currently, 128 routes have been started under the various phases of the Udan scheme.