Air connectivity across Maharashtra is set to receive a major boost under the Central government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, with Gadchiroli poised to get a new airport. The state currently has eight airports licensed under the RCS framework, and the proposed airport will further strengthen aviation infrastructure in the Vidarbha region.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the development on Thursday during the Nagpur Airport transfer programme. He said the Maharashtra government has consistently focused on expanding regional air connectivity through the development of RCS airports across the state.
Fadnavis said that after Amravati and Gondia, the process of setting up an airport in Gadchiroli has gathered pace. He added that the proposed airport will play a crucial role in transforming Gadchiroli into a major steel manufacturing hub by improving connectivity and supporting industrial growth.
At present, regular RCS flight services operate from Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gondia and Amravati. Meanwhile, flights on the Solapur-Mumbai route have been launched with 100 per cent Viability Gap Funding (VGF), aimed at making regional air travel more accessible.
The RCS-UDAN scheme in Maharashtra began in April 2017 with the launch of the Nanded-Hyderabad flight service. Since then, airports in Jalgaon, Nashik, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gondia and Amravati have been integrated into the state’s regional aviation network, significantly improving air connectivity across Maharashtra.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com