NITI Aayog to examine viability of UDAN scheme
Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), an attached office of NITI Aayog, will evaluate the regional connectivity scheme popularly known as UDAN. The monitoring body has issued an RfP for evaluation of the scheme which is expected to kick-start later this year. UDAN is the government’s regional airport development program and part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of upgrading under-serviced air routes.
Its goal is to make air travel affordable and improve economic development in India. As per the RfP document, the evaluation study will include identifying gaps and challenges in issues related to operations, management and development of airports while providing research and economic perspectives on all aspects of the project “The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, intends to engage a consultancy firm to support in the evaluation study of Regional Connectivity Scheme,” it said in the document. “DMEO, NITI Aayog invites proposals for this assignment, from national/international firms/organisations/institutions, which have requisite experience in this field,” it added.
RCS-UDAN was formulated based on the review of The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016 and it was planned to remain in force for a period of 10 years. The scheme came into operation in 2017. It has a self-financing mechanism with the development of Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF).
Under this scheme, RCF was created, which funds the VGF requirements of the scheme through a levy on certain domestic flights. This way, funds generated from the sector themselves stimulate the growth and development of the sector. The government targets to complete 220
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