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India's UDAN Scheme Soars: 100 New Airports, 120 Destinations Planned
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CNBC TV18•22-09-2026, 12:29
India's UDAN Scheme Soars: 100 New Airports, 120 Destinations Planned
- •India's UDAN regional connectivity scheme targets 120 new destinations and 100 airport developments over the next decade, according to Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha.
- •Since its 2016 launch, UDAN has connected 95 airports via 687 routes, benefiting over 1.68 crore passengers and operating more than 3.58 lakh flights.
- •The Ministry of Civil Aviation is signing 21 MoUs with 18 states and three Union Territories to strengthen regional air connectivity.
- •The next phase plans to connect 120 additional destinations, facilitate travel for 4 crore passengers, develop 100 airports from existing airstrips, and establish 200 helipads.
- •The Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN scheme in March for 10 years (FY2026-27 to FY2035-36) with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore.
Key Questions Answered
The modified UDAN scheme has a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore and will be implemented over a 10-year period from FY2026-27 to FY2035-36.
The government plans to develop 100 new airports from existing unserved airstrips and establish 200 modern helipads, particularly in remote and hilly regions.
The UDAN scheme was originally launched in 2016 to take air connectivity beyond major metropolitan centres and link smaller towns and remote regions.
