Mumbai, July 7 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce a 10-year extension of the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme at an event in Jodhpur, extending the programme until 2037. The move forms part of a major push to bolster regional aviation and strengthen connectivity across smaller cities and towns. Officials said the extension is intended to provide policy certainty for operators and investors. The announcement follows earlier measures to modernise airport infrastructure and to widen access to affordable air travel.
UDAN was launched to subsidise flights to underserved routes and to stimulate the development of secondary airports. The scheme has supported new air services to remote centres and enabled airlines to trial thin routes with financial incentives. Administrators said a longer horizon for the programme will allow better planning for route development and infrastructure upgrades. It has also prompted upgrades to ground handling and air traffic services at smaller airfields.
The extension is aimed at boosting tourism, improving business linkages and supporting regional supply chains. State authorities and airport operators will coordinate on capacity enhancements and last mile connectivity to support viable operations. A 10-year policy window is intended to provide certainty for airlines and investors and to encourage investment in regional aircraft and ground services. Stakeholders will use the extended timeframe to align training, maintenance cycles and service schedules with longer term planning.
Airlines will be able to plan network expansion with a longer policy horizon, and airport developers can align capacity projects with projected demand. The government will outline details on route allocations, fiscal support and operational guidelines at the announcement, enabling stakeholders to prepare business cases. Officials indicated the scheme will remain focused on affordability and wider economic inclusion. The government will publish implementation milestones and monitoring mechanisms alongside operational guidelines.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.