Routes categorised to ensure balanced air transport services across regions.
The Government of India is implementing the Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) to improve air transport connectivity across various regions of the country. Under RDGs, routes have been classified into four categories: Category I, II, IIA, and III, each with specific criteria and requirements.
Category I Routes:
- Criteria:
- Flying distance of more than 700 km
- Average seat factor of more than 70 percent
- Annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers over two full schedules (summer and winter)
- Key Routes:
- Mumbai-Delhi
- Delhi-Bangalore
- Mumbai-Chennai
- Hyderabad-Delhi
- Bangalore-Kolkata
- Bangalore-Pune
- Delhi-Patna
- Mumbai-Cochin
- Mumbai-Chandigarh
- Mumbai-Lucknow
- Bangalore-Mumbai
- Delhi-Kolkata
- Delhi-Chennai
- Mumbai-Kolkata
- Chennai-Kolkata
- Ahmedabad-Delhi
- Mumbai-Jaipur
- Delhi-Pune
- Delhi-Goa
- Chennai-Pune
Category II Routes:
- Connect stations in the North-Eastern Region, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands.
- Requirement:
- Scheduled operators must deploy at least 10 percent of their capacity on Category II routes relative to their capacity on Category I routes.
Category IIA Routes:
- Routes within the North-Eastern Region, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and Cochin-Agatti-Cochin.
- Requirement:
- Operators must deploy at least 1 percent of their capacity on Category IIA routes relative to their capacity on Category I routes.
Category III Routes:
- Routes other than those mentioned in Category I, II, and IIA.
- Requirement:
- Operators must deploy at least 35 percent of their capacity on Category III routes relative to their capacity on Category I routes.
This strategic classification and deployment requirement aim to ensure balanced and enhanced air connectivity across the country, especially in regions that have historically been underserved.
This information was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
