The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the revised Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for a period of 10 years till 2035-36. Budgetary support will be provided by the government for the revised regional air connectivity plan. Speaking to the media after the cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that under this scheme, 100 airports will be developed from the existing unused airstrips. A total of Rs 12,159 crore will be spent on the development of these airports in the next eight years.
According to the official statement, a target has also been set to develop 200 modern helipads under the scheme, for which a total of Rs 3,661 crore will be required in the next eight years. Additionally, under the scheme, financing worth Rs 10,043 crore will be provided to airline companies for project feasibility (VGF) over a period of 10 years. The UDAN scheme was launched in October 2016 with the aim of increasing regional air connectivity and making air travel more affordable.
This much will be spent on operation and maintenance
There is also a provision for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) assistance in this scheme, under which the Cabinet has approved three years of assistance for RCS Airport. In this, a limit of Rs 3 crore per airport and Rs 90 lakh per helipad has been fixed every year, for which a total budgetary support of Rs 2,577 crore will be given. Union Cabinet Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said the UDAN scheme will run for 10 years, and existing airstrips will be converted into airports to enhance regional connectivity.
Domestic aircraft will be purchased
Additionally, the scheme also includes procurement of ‘Made-in-India’ aircraft, for which a budgetary support of Rs 400 crore has been provided. This step is in line with the government’s efforts to promote domestic manufacturing. In line with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign, the government has proposed to procure domestically manufactured aircraft. This includes HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air to overcome the shortage of small aircraft suitable for regional flights.
Aviation sector will be strengthened
The government said the scheme is expected to boost economic growth, trade and tourism in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, while also improving access to health services and emergency response mechanisms in remote areas. It also aims to strengthen India’s aviation sector and contribute to the broader vision of ‘Develop India 2047’. Under the original UDAN scheme launched in 2016, 663 routes across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes have been operationalized by February 2026. More than 3.41 lakh flights have been operated under this scheme, through which more than 1.62 crore passengers have traveled.