New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has awarded 14 water aerodromes under UDAN across India, said an official statement. Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) has been awarded 70 routes by AAI under RCS UDAN out of which 12 routes are operationalized. These are     Chandigarh-Shimla-Chandigarh; Shimla-Rampur-Shimla; Shimla-Mandi-Shimla; Mandi-Dharamshala-Mandi; Mandi-Kullu-Mandi; Dehradun-New Tehri-Dehradun; New Tehri-Srinagar-New Tehri; Srinagar-Gauchar-Srinagar; Dehradun-Srinagar-Dehradun; Dehradun-Gauchar-Dehradun; Haldwani-Haridwar-Haldwani, and Pantnagar-Pithoragarh-Pantnagar.

It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced seaplane operations from water aerodromes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN. AAI, the implementing agency, has awarded 14 water aerodromes under UDAN across the country. These Sardar Sarovar Dam, Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Long Island, Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Guwahati riverfront and Umrangso reservoir in Assam, NagarjunaSagar Dam in Telangana, Prakasam Barrage in Andhra Pradesh, and Minicoy, Kavaratti, Agatti in Lakshadweep Islands.

A total of 115 RCS helicopter routes have been awarded under RCS-UDAN scheme out of which 36 routes have been operationalized. As per provisions in the UDAN scheme, helicopter operations are permissible only in priority areas viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, North Eastern Region states, Andaman Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. /BI/