By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 15, 2017 : Bhubaneswar airport is among 44 airports across India, having major potential for operations under the government’s Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik [Udan], or Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for civil aviation, a report by industry chamber Ficci has said.

“Based on the geographical, operational and commercial parameters, 44 out of the 414 underserved and unserved airports have high potential under RCS,” the report, prepared jointly by Ficci with international accounting firm KPMG, says.

“We have also identified around 370 potential destinations for the shortlisted airports, including metros, state capitals and important commercial, industrial and tourism centres,” the report said.

Uttar Pradesh has four high potential RCS destinations; three each in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam; two each in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bihar, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh; and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.

Udan scheme has been introduced through the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 and was formally launched in October last year. It aims to promote flying among the public through fiscal incentives, infrastructure support and monetary subsidies.