The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) for 10 years, with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore backed by government budgetary support.. The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) for 10 years. (PMO). Under the scheme, the government will develop 100 airports/airstrips, it said. The scheme, which will be in place from financial year (FY) 2026–27 to FY 2035–36, will cater to underserved and unserved airstrips, the government said.. “It will be a boost to economic growth, trade and tourism in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, support affordable air travel for common citizens, (help in) improved emergency response and healthcare access in remote and hilly regions, greater viability and sustainability for regional aerodromes and airline operators, promotion of the indigenous aerospace sector under Atmanirbhar Bharat and progress towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal,” a statement issued by the government read.. The first UDAN scheme (UDAN 1.0) was launched in October 2016 and took off on April 27, 2017, with the objective of making air travel affordable and strengthening connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. UDAN 2.0 was launched in 2018, UDAN 3.0 in 2019, and UDAN 4.0 in 2020. A series of UDAN 5 was launched starting April 2023. Thereafter, UDAN 5.1 was launched in May 2023, UDAN 5.2 in July the same year, UDAN 5.3 in January 2024, UDAN 5.4 in August 2024, and UDAN 5.5 was launched in February last year.. In over nine years of implementation, 663 routes were operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes as of February 28 this year. More than 3.41 lakh flights were operated, carrying 162.47 lakh passengers.. The key components of the modified scheme, announced on Wednesday, include the development of aerodromes, their operations and maintenance (O&M), development of modern helipads, and viability gap funding (VGF).. “Under the Modified UDAN Scheme, it is proposed to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips to enhance regional connectivity, in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of infrastructure expansion and transforming India into a globally competitive aviation ecosystem, with a total outlay of ₹12,159 crore over the next eight years,” a statement issued by the government read.. Speaking on the maintenance of aerodromes, the government said, “Given the high recurring O&M costs and limited revenue streams for RCS-only aerodromes, the scheme proposes to provide O&M support for three years capped at ₹3.06 crore per annum per airport and ₹0.90 crore per annum per heliport/water aerodrome, estimated at ₹2,577 crore for around 441 aerodromes.”. The government also proposed to develop 200 modern helipads to add
