GUWAHATI: The Centre’s ambitious Udaan scheme, meant to let common people fly at subsidised fares, has failed to deliver in the northeast, which needed it the most to enhance air connectivity, given the difficult terrain in the region.
Of the 13 flights started in 2018 to connect some of the interior parts of northeast with key destinations like Kolkata and Guwahati, only two remain operational. The first flight under the international version of Udaan that was launched between Guwahati and Dhaka under the International Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS) on July 1 is also on hold because of lack of adequate number of passengers.
Pulling out of private airlines from Udaan in the northeast has hit air connectivity between Tezpur (Assam) and Kolkata, Pakyong (Sikkim) and Kolkata, Pakyong and Guwahati, Lilabari (Assam) and Kolkata, and Lilabari and Guwahati.