On Wednesday, March 25, the Union Cabinet approved a revised regional air connectivity initiative with a budget of ₹28,840 crore over a decade, aimed at enhancing aviation access to smaller towns and remote areas.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet sanctioned the updated UDAN scheme for the period spanning FY27 to FY36, as stated by the government.
The initiative encompasses the development of 100 airports from unserved airstrips within the next eight years, with a capital expenditure of ₹12,159 crore, aimed at bolstering regional connectivity.
Additionally, the government will offer operational and maintenance support for regional aerodromes for up to three years due to their high costs and limited revenue potential. This aspect is projected to cost ₹2,577 crore.
To enhance last-mile connectivity in remote, hilly, and island areas, the scheme envisages the development of 200 helipads, with a total investment of ₹3,661 crore.
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Airlines operating under this initiative will receive approximately ₹10,043 crore in viability gap funding over the next ten years to facilitate operations on less profitable routes.
The plan also entails the acquisition of small aircraft and helicopters from domestic manufacturers to support operations in challenging terrains and promote local aerospace production.
The UDAN programme, initiated in 2016 to make air travel more economical, has successfully operationalized 663 routes across 95 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes, facilitating over 3.41 lakh flights and transporting more than 162.47 lakh passengers, according to the government.
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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
