Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, launched a new scheme today, to make air travel affordable in smaller cities in the country.
A new scheme “UDAN or Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik” was flagged off by the Prime Minister, at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. The new scheme will increase the air travel between Tier 2 and smaller towns, says reports. Speaking on the occasion Modi said, “I want to see people who wear hawai chappal (flip flops) in a hawai-jahaz (airplane).”
Under the “Regional Connectivity Scheme” the air fares on routes between towns and cities currently poorly connected will be capped at 2,500 rupees for every 500 kilometre of travel. To get more Indians flying, service and fuel taxes have been dropped as incentive for airlines to fly less traversed routes. A small levy will be imposed on existing routes to help pay for the scheme.
Alliance Air, a subsidiary of national carrier Air India, will operate the Delhi-Shimla flight that was launched today, and has offered a special starting fare of Rs 2,036. The PMO said in a tweet:
“To make air travel accessible to citizens in regionally important areas, the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) was launched in October, 2016.”
UDAN makes air travel accessible to a wider range of citizens & enhances connectivity with many more airports across India. pic.twitter.com/X2wVIq6130
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2017
The UDAN Scheme is a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released on June 15, 2016. The PMO said, “Airfare for a 1-hour journey of approximately 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs. 2,500.” “This with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths and flight duration,” said the PMO.
The airlines officials quoted saying, raising the regional air connectivity would see annual ticket sales jump to 300 million by 2022.
Modi Bans Usage Of Red Beacon For Central Govt Ministers
SUPRAJA
