The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for extending the “time and scope” of financial support of Rs. 4,500 crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the revival of small airports for the regional connectivity scheme (RCS).

The sum of Rs. 4,500 crore had earlier been promised for the development of 50 un-served and under-served airports for the period of three years between financial years 2018 and 2020. An AAI official said that this was now being extended to all the airports AAI may develop until 2022.

The official added that the need to seek these extensions was felt because the duration of the RCS programme according to the scheme document is 10 years. The scheme was launched in March 2017 after the first set of RCS routes were awarded.

The AAI has developed 38 unfrequented and less frequented airports since the launch of the scheme in March 2017. As many as 750 routes have been awarded for connecting 77 un-served airports, 21 under-served airports, ten waterdromes and 31 helipads.

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