Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 4 July, launched the next phase of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme and inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport in Rajasthan.
In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said the modified UDAN scheme has been approved with an outlay of nearly ₹29,000 crore over the next 10 years.
The new phase is aimed at expanding regional aviation infrastructure, supporting airline operations on regional routes and developing new facilities in underserved areas.
UDAN, launched in October 2016, has so far operationalised 669 routes and connected 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes. According to the ministry, the scheme has benefited more than 1.66 crore passengers.
Under the modified scheme, the government plans to develop 100 aerodromes from existing unserved airstrips with an investment of ₹12,159 crore.
The scheme also includes ₹2,577 crore for operations and maintenance support for regional airports.
Another ₹3,661 crore has been earmarked for the development of 200 modern helipads, while ₹10,043 crore will continue as Viability Gap Funding to support regional airline operations.
The ministry said the scheme will also promote the use of indigenous aircraft and helicopters, including HAL Dhruv and Dornier platforms, for operations in underserved and remote regions.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the modified UDAN scheme marks a new phase in India’s aviation expansion.
He said UDAN has made air travel “affordable, accessible and aspirational” since its launch in 2016.
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Naidu said the next phase of the scheme will strengthen last-mile connectivity and support aviation-led growth across Tier-2, Tier-3 and remote regions.
Alongside the launch of Viksit UDAN, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport.
The terminal has been developed by the Airports Authority of India at a cost of ₹480 crore.
Spread across 23,342 square metres, the new terminal is designed to handle 1,500 passengers during peak hours and 20 lakh passengers annually.
The facility has 20 check-in counters, advanced security screening systems, modern baggage handling infrastructure and six aerobridges.
The newly developed apron can accommodate 11 A-321 aircraft and one ATR-72 aircraft. The city-side infrastructure includes parking space for around 320 cars.
The existing terminal at Jodhpur Airport had an annual handling capacity of about 4 lakh passengers and had reached saturation due to sustained traffic growth.
The ministry said the new facility has been built to meet future demand while incorporating sustainable features such as energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures and green building practices.
The terminal is aimed at achieving a 5-Star GRIHA rating.
The ministry said the design of the new terminal draws from Rajasthan’s royal architectural heritage, with elements such as arches and jharokhas blended with modern airport infrastructure.
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