<span style="color: #222222;">In yet another endeavour to ensure last mile air connectivity, the Union Government is now focusing on encouraging air carriers to operate smaller aircraft, seaplanes and helicopters under the small aircraft scheme.<br />''<br />''In an exclusive interview with All India Radio, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today said, the country will witness many new routes under the scheme.<br />''<br />''Highlighting the merits of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, the Civil Aviation Minister said, about one lakh 80 thousand flights have been operated and around 95 lakh common people have traveled under the scheme so far. </span><br />''<br />''He said, UDAN is a huge leap forward in the direction of democratization of air travel envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, currently, there are 419 operational routes which never existed before the launch of the UDAN scheme.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Terming Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 an important pillar for the growth of agriculture sector, he said, the scheme helped in transportation of perishable food products across the country and globally from far flung areas. </span><br />