Showcasing Buddhist circuit under Regional Connectivity Scheme — UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) and the rich dividends it has been yielding, the tableau of Ministry of Civil Aviation will be participating for the first time in the Republic Day Celebration Parade-2022.
The UDAN scheme was launched in 2016 with its aim to enhance aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in Tier-II and Tier-III cities at affordable airfare fulfilling the aspirations of the common man.
In the aircraft shaped tableau, the front part showcases women pilots depicting women power in India’s aviation, as India tops in women commercial pilots, globally. The rear portion of the tableau shows the symbol of Buddhism and motto of UDAN — Sab Uden, Sab Juden.
The middle portion showcases Buddha circuit, featuring, Buddha Statue at Gaya where He attained enlightenment — Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, where He delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Parivartan) and the Mahaparinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar where He attained Mahaparinirvana.
Both sides of the middle portion of the tableau depict heritage sites — Humayun tomb from North, Konark sun temple in East, Hampi temple chariot in South and Ajanta caves in West, connected with air services.
Humayun tomb is accessible through Indira Gandhi International airport, Delhi, Konark sun temple through Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneshwar, Hampi temple through Vidyanagar airport while Ajanta caves can be reached via Aurangabad airport.
The tableau also depicts the Palm Yoga Mudra of Buddha in the centre and world heritage sites of India situated in different regions of the country, two each on either side of the Palm Yoga Mudra.
The first UDAN flight was flagged off in 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As on date, 403 UDAN routes connecting 65 underserved/unserved airports including heliports and water aerodromes have been operationalized under UDAN Scheme and more than 85 lakh people have benefited from this scheme.
UDAN has transformed the way people travel in remote areas. Whether it is Rupsi, Pithoragarh, Pasighat, Jorhat, Jharsuguda, Kishangarh, Kurnool, Hubballi, Belgavi, Darbhanga, Adampur, etc., people have adopted air transportation due to the benefits it has provided.
UDAN has helped Dekho Apna Desh campaign of the Ministry of Tourism and many hitherto not served sectors are connected.
Air connectivity plays a decisive role in the economic growth of the country. Air connectivity also attracts business investments and human resources.
Air travel has seen massive growth around the world with millions of people joining the global middle class and India, in particular, has seen an extraordinary growth in the Civil Aviation sector.
An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) study shows that air connectivity would have economic multipliers of 3.1 times and employment multipliers of 6.
The linkage between the Civil Aviation sector and the economic activity and its impact on the general development of India has been well recognized.
Direct benefits generated by Air Transport connectivity which includes employment and economic activity has boosted over the last couple of years in India.
Air Transport in India is at the cusp of an unstoppable forward march towards reaching eminence in the aviation industry in the years to come. UDAN airports have opened up the potential for employment, tourism, and better connectivity for the people.
Airports at places like Jharsuguda, Kishangarh (Ajmer), Bhavnagar, etc have boosted local trade while airports at iconic tourism hotspots like Kushinagar, Vidyanagar (Hampi) Rajahmundry, etc have resulted in increased volume of domestic as well as international tourists at these places.
Bharat Dekho, Incredible India and Buddhist Circuit have got tremendous support from increased connectivity under UDAN.