Kharge Slams Govt Over CAG Findings On UDAN Scheme, Says 'Project Failed On 93% Routes'

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the regional connectivity project UDAN did not work on 93 per cent of the routes, and people were sold "lies" in the name of development.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Hitting out at the Centre over the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the flagship UDAN scheme, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged that the regional connectivity project did not work on 93 per cent of the routes and the common people were sold “lies” in the name of development, news agency PTI reported.    

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Kharge slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the government failed to keep its promise of enabling “those wearing slippers” to travel by air.

"We are not saying this, the CAG Report is saying this! The scheme (UDAN) did not work on 93 per cent of the routes. Even independent audit of airlines was not done. The much publicized helicopter services also remained stalled," Kharge posted.

मोदी सरकार का हवाई चप्पल पहन, हवाई सफ़र करने का वादा उनके हर वादे की तरह हवा-हवाई हो गया !

ये हम नहीं कह रहें हैं, CAG Report कह रही है !

🛬योजना 93% routes पर नहीं चली।

🛬Airlines का independent audit भी नहीं हुआ।

🛬बहुप्रचारित Helicopter services भी ठप्प रही।

नहीं मिली… pic.twitter.com/I3bWh6CRke

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 19, 2023

"Didn't get 'UDAN', just talk of lies and jumlas! India will not forgive such an incompetent government now!" the Congress president added.

It is to be noted that the Central government launched the regional connectivity scheme, under the name of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2016, in a bid to boost regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable to the common people in tier-2 and tier-3 towns and cities.

Earlier on Wednesday, the grand old party had also claimed that the CAG has pointed out alleged scams in infrastructure projects of the BJP-led government at the Centre and PM Modi should be held accountable, PTI reported.

“There should be a probe into the alleged scams and accountability should be fixed,” PTI quoted Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate as saying.