NEW DELHI. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme–Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), a total of 651 routes have been operationalised across India, connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes, Parliament was informed. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu said that Uttar Pradesh alone has seen 87 routes linking 12 airports under the scheme. More than 157 lakh passengers have so far benefited from 3.27 lakh UDAN flights, significantly improving air access to Tier-II and smaller cities.
The government has also announced a modified UDAN scheme to further strengthen regional connectivity by linking 120 new destinations nationwide, including in Uttar Pradesh, with an estimated reach of four crore passengers over the next decade. The proposal is currently at the approval stage. Naidu added that airport infrastructure development is an ongoing process, while aviation safety is ensured through DGCA’s strict oversight, including audits and regular surveillance. Under the Greenfield Airports Policy, in-principle approval has been granted to 24 new airports, of which 13 are already operational.
