The Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) today completed eight years of its launch. The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21st of October, 2016. The UDAN scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens. Under it, the first RCS- UDAN flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 27th of April 2017.

Since the launch of the scheme, over 600  UDAN routes have been operationalized. and more than one crore forty-four lakh passengers have travelled by flight.. This demonstrates the success of the scheme in enhancing air travel accessibility. The scheme has so far connected 34 States and Union territories across the length and breadth of the country. Under the scheme, ten airports have also been operationalized in the Northeast region in addition to two heliports.  RCS-UDAN is not only providing last-mile connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities but also stands as a prominent contributor to the tourism sector. The scheme has become a game changer for many airports by triggering air connectivity and regional growth.