Next Phase of UDAN – Viksit UDAN
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), named 'Viksit UDAN' (Modified UDAN Scheme), on July 4, 2026, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The initiative expands regional air connectivity over the next decade to align with the Viksit Bharat 2047 national vision.
Financial Outlay & Timeline
- Total Budget: An unprecedented ₹28,840 crore allocation covers operational targets over the next 10 years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36).
- Aerodrome Development: Over ₹12,000 crore is reserved exclusively to transform unserved airstrips into functioning regional airports.
- Helipad Network: A dedicated capital pool of ₹3,661 crore will fund rotary-wing infrastructure.
- O&M Allocation: More than ₹2,500 crore provides Operations and Maintenance (O&M) subsidies to secure the commercial viability of young local airports.
- Viability Gap Funding: A sum of ₹10,043 crore is explicitly earmarked for airline subsidies to preserve low-cost pricing models.
Key Strategic Objectives & Targets
- Aerodrome Expansion: The target includes building or upgrading 100 aerodromes from existing unserved infrastructure assets.
- Helipad Focus: The construction of 200 modern helipads will close connectivity gaps in mountainous or remote geographies.
- Target Destinations: Regional flight networks will scale up to continuously support 120 unique destinations across internal routes.
- Passenger Milestones: The phase plans to safely scale accessibility to benefit 4 crore passengers over its active life cycle.
Focus on Domestic Production (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
- Indigenous Aircraft: The policy prioritises deploying Indian-manufactured fixed-wing planes and helicopters.
- Strategic Platforms: Procurement mandates call for platforms like the HAL Dhruv helicopter and HAL Dornier (Hindustan 228) aircraft to service remote circuits.
Cumulative Progress of UDAN (2016–2026)
- Historical Routes: Since its launch in October 2016, the program has successfully operationalised 669 regional routes.
- Connected Nodes: A total network of 95 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes have actively integrated into the national network.
- Passenger Footprint: To date, more than 1.66 crore passengers have utilized affordable regional flights.
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