New Delhi: To boost regional connectivity, the government on Saturday announced a modified UDAN scheme to connect 120 new destinations that will help carry 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years.
Presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said greenfield airports will be facilitated in Bihar.
Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) — the regional air connectivity scheme — has so far connected 88 airports and has helped operationalize 619 routes.
“The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and northeastern regional districts,” Sitharaman said.
Sitharaman has proposed ₹530 crore for UDAN in 2025-26 as against ₹502 crore in 2024-25.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the UDAN scheme in October 2016 to improve connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country to make air travel affordable to the masses.
According to the Economic Survey tabled on Friday, the UDAN scheme has 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 operationalized 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.
