India’s UDAN Scheme Expands to 120 New Destinations, Linking Remote Regions by Air

India’s ambitious UDAN scheme has revolutionized regional air travel by operationalizing 649 routes across nine years, linking 93 previously unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes, enabling over 1.56 crore passengers to fly affordably through 3.23 lakh subsidized flights since its launch on October 21, 2016, with the inaugural journey soaring from Shimla to Delhi on April 27, 2017.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Tuesday that the scheme will not only continue beyond its current phase ending April 2027 but will expand under a strengthened framework targeting enhanced connectivity in hilly terrains, Northeastern states, and aspirational districts, alongside the development of approximately 120 new destinations to further democratize air access.

To sustain operations on less profitable routes, the government has disbursed more than ₹4,300 crore in Viability Gap Funding to participating airlines, while investing ₹4,638 crore in airport infrastructure upgrades, including runway extensions, terminal buildings, and navigational aids at remote locations that once relied solely on road or rail links spanning days of travel.

Also Read: IMD Issues Red Alert: Extremely Heavy Rain Forecast for Chennai and Six Coastal Districts

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha emphasized the ministry’s long-term vision, stating that the extended UDAN initiative will prioritize last-mile aerial connectivity, support tourism in ecologically sensitive regions, and stimulate economic growth in tier-2 and tier-3 cities by integrating smaller aircraft, seaplanes, and helicopters into the national aviation grid.

From connecting tribal hamlets in Arunachal Pradesh to facilitating medical evacuations via heliports in Uttarakhand and enabling pilgrimage tourism through water aerodrome operations in Gujarat and Assam, UDAN has transformed regional mobility, reduced travel time by up to 80 percent on select routes, and empowered local economies with faster access to markets, education, and healthcare—a success story now set to soar even higher in the coming decade.

Also Read: ‘No Excuses’: CM Siddaramaiah Sets One-Week Deadline to Fix Bengaluru’s Potholes