The Indian government is planning to extend the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme for an additional 10 years to further boost regional air connectivity. Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu made the announcement, emphasizing the scheme’s impact in bridging the gap between urban and rural areas through affordable air travel. UDAN, introduced in 2016, was designed to make flying accessible to the common citizen while enhancing connectivity to under-served and unserved airports across the country.
The decision to extend the scheme comes as part of the government’s larger vision to strengthen the regional aviation sector and make it a key driver of economic growth. The scheme has successfully connected 73 underserved and 32 unserved airports, making air travel available to millions of people in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. By continuing the program for another decade, the government aims to build on this progress and improve connectivity in more remote areas.
Naidu highlighted that the extension will also include plans to modernize infrastructure at existing airports, along with the construction of new airports in smaller cities and regions. The government is working closely with airlines and private stakeholders to ensure that the scheme remains viable and attracts further investment in regional aviation. To date, the UDAN initiative has seen over 450 routes operationalized, and the government is targeting to add several more in the coming years.
In addition to expanding routes, the next phase of UDAN will focus on sustainability, with a push towards adopting greener technologies and reducing the aviation sector’s carbon footprint. This aligns with the government’s broader goal of promoting eco-friendly practices in all sectors, including transportation.
The minister also underscored the importance of improving air cargo services under the UDAN framework, which will further enhance economic activity in remote regions by facilitating the faster movement of goods. With the extension of the scheme, the government is confident that the UDAN initiative will continue to play a crucial role in transforming the Indian aviation landscape and making air travel a key component of the country’s growth story.
