The Minister of Civil Aviation recently inaugurated Utkela Airport, owned by the Government of Odisha, launching a direct flight route between Utkela and Bhubaneswar. Developed under the UDAN scheme, this regional airport will significantly boost air connectivity in the Kalahandi region. The Utkela to Bhubaneswar flight route will reduce travel time from 8 hours by road to just 1 hour and 20 minutes by air, promoting economic development. UDAN, the Union Government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme, aims to connect underserved airports, revitalizing existing ones and introducing economically feasible flights on regional routes, making air travel accessible to people in small communities.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- UDAN Scheme (UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik): A regional airport development project initiated by the Union Government to enhance connectivity to unserved and underserved airports.
- Kalahandi Region: A district in the Indian state of Odisha known for its cultural heritage and now benefiting from improved air connectivity.
- Capped Fare: A regulated pricing mechanism that ensures affordable airfares on regional routes, a key component of the UDAN scheme.
- Revitalizing Airstrips: The process of upgrading and modernizing existing airfields to accommodate scheduled civilian flights, another objective of UDAN.
