In order to give a push to affordable flying under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) announced last year, the government on Wednesday said that it had earmarked Rs 4,500 crore for taking up a proposal to revive 50 unserved and under served airports and airstrips.
The government will take up work to revive these airstrips with respective state governments and Airports Authority of India during the three financial years starting from the 2017-18 fiscal.
The revival of airstrips or airports, however, is 'demand driven', depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as from state governments for providing various concessions.
The AAI will be the implementing agency of RCS—UDAN. "AAI has received 43 initial proposals from 11 bidders covering 92 airports (30 currently served airports, 12 currently under served airports and 50 currently un-served airports)," said Jayant Sinha, minister of state for civil aviation.
He said airlines were free to select airports based on their assessment of demand on particular routes and submit proposals at the time of bidding under RCS from time to time.
"After technical scrutiny of the proposals, financial bids in respect of 22 proposals have been opened and selection of the airline operators for operations under RCS is underway," the minister said.
Once selected, airline operators shall be required to commence flight operations within a period of six months from the execution of their contracts allowing operations under the RCS.
