UDAN will enhance the progress of small towns: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister narendra Modi on Thursday applauded the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities of the country for their speedy development and said that their progress will further take a boom if aviation connectivity is enhanced in these areas.

The PM, who launched the cheap flights project for small towns, on Thursday, in Shimla said, "Earlier aviation was considered to be the domain of a select few. That has changed now and Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities are becoming growth engines. If aviation connectivity is enhanced in these places, it will be beneficial."

Stating that the aviation sector in India is filled with opportunities, the Prime Minister further said, "UDAN scheme will surely help, boosting the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh."

PM Modi flagged off flights from Jubbarhatti, an airport on the outskirts of Shimla to mark the launch of the project.

What else he said:

• Air travel is now not just for the rich, I want air travel to be for all
• The lives of the middle class are being transformed and their aspirations are increasing.
• It the people could be given the right chance and opportunities, they can do wonders.
• We had the opportunity to frame a civil aviation policy, which caters to aspirations of the people of India and we did it by benefiting the smaller towns of the country.

What is UDAN project:

• UDAN is abbreviation of Ude desh ka aam naagrik, meaning 'the common man flies'.
• The project became the centerpiece of India's first national aviation policy launched in June 2016 and is a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released on 15th June, 2016.
• Airfare for a 1 hour journey of approximate 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs. 2,500.
• For longer routes and flight duration, the pricing may vary.
• A single person can buy 9 to 40 seats in a flight.
• The airlines need to block only 50 per cent cheap tickets and the rest can be sold at market rates. The airlines, however, have indicated that they are not happy with this arrangement.