Govt to launch modified UDAN scheme, connect 120 new destinations: Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman said the scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and northeastern regional districts
NEW DELHI: The government will launch a modified version of its regional connectivity scheme, ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik’ or UDAN, to connect more destinations in the next 10 years, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech on Saturday.
“Inspired by the success of UDAN, a modified scheme will be launched to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations and carry 4 crore additional passengers in the next 10 years,” Sitharaman told Parliament.
“The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and northeastern regional districts,” Sitharaman said.
The minister said the scheme had enabled 15 million middle-class people to meet their aspirations for speedier travel.
Sitharaman has proposed ₹530 crore for UDAN in 2025-26 as against a budget estimate of ₹502 crore and revised estimate of ₹800 crore in 2024-25.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched UDAN scheme in October 2016 to improve connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country for making air travel affordable to the masses.
According to the Economic Survey tabled on Friday, the UDAN scheme have considerably improved air connectivity by opening new airports and working on regional connectivity. “Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), 619 routes connecting 88 airports, including two water aerodromes and 13 heliports, have been operationalised so far,” it said.
“Airport operators and developers, including the Airports Authority of India, are pursuing a capital expenditure plan exceeding ₹91,000 crore from FY20 to FY25. About 91 per cent of this has been achieved by November 2024,” the survey said.
In addition, the minister also announced that greenfield airports would be facilitated in Bihar to meet the future needs of the state. “These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of Patna airport and a brownfield airport at Bihta,” she added.