Modi govt unveils ₹28,000 crore plan to build 100 new airports, boost air connectivity
The scheme will operate for the next 10 years, starting from 2026-27. Since its launch in 2016, UDAN has developed 95 airports and operationalized 663 new routes, making air travel more accessible to the common man
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Significant and comforting news has arrived for air travelers nationwide. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a significant decision and approved the "UDAN 2.0" plan. Under this ambitious plan, 100 new airports will be developed across the country. The government has also approved a massive budget of ₹28,840 crore for this massive project. This significant decision will expand the scope of air travel in the future.
UDAN-2.0 scheme will continue for the next 10 years
According to a proposal passed by the Union Cabinet, this modified UDAN plan will be effective for the next 10 years. A complete roadmap has been prepared to implement it from the upcoming financial year 2026-27 to 2035-36. The government has clarified that budgetary support of ₹28,840 crore has been allocated for this entire period, so that there are no financial constraints on the construction and development of new airports.
Trade and tourism will gain tremendous momentum in small towns
Giving details of these major decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav stated that the UDAN 2.0 plan will directly benefit smaller cities across the country. This plan will significantly enhance air connectivity in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Connecting these cities to a robust air network will directly boost economic activity, local trade, and tourism, creating new employment opportunities in the future.
It was started in 2016 to provide air travel to the common man
It is worth noting that the central government launched the UDAN scheme in October 2016, aiming to make air travel affordable and accessible to the common and middle-class citizens of the country. The primary objective of this scheme was to enhance regional connectivity. Looking back at the achievements of the last nine years, 95 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes have been successfully developed across the country under this scheme, and flights are operating smoothly on a total of 663 new routes.