NEW DELHI. The Civil Aviation Ministry has signed 21 agreements with states and Union Territories to roll out the next phase of the UDAN scheme, aimed at improving regional air connectivity and developing aviation infrastructure in underserved and unserved areas. The MoUs between the Ministry, participating states/UTs and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will facilitate joint identification, development and operationalisation of aviation infrastructure.
Since its launch in 2016, UDAN has operationalised 687 routes and 95 aerodromes, with more than 3.66 lakh flights carrying around 1.71 crore passengers. The scheme has improved connectivity in remote regions, with airports such as Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh and Purnea in Bihar bringing air services closer to previously underserved areas.
Under Modified UDAN, the government aims to add 120 new destinations and 4 crore additional passenger journeys over the next 10 years, with participation from more than 20 states. The initiative will focus on affordability, sustainable operations, transparent project selection and promotion of indigenous aircraft manufacturing, supporting India’s broader ambition to develop a Made-in-India civil aviation ecosystem.
