Centre Inks Deals with 21 States, UTs for Next Phase of UDAN Scheme
- IBEF
- September 23, 2026
Twenty-one states and Union Territories have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Civil Aviation Ministry under the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme in New Delhi. Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Rammohan Naidu described UDAN as one of the most revolutionary schemes in the country, propelling regional air connectivity across the nation, and said that following the scheme's extension for another 10 years, the government aims to construct 100 new airports and 200 modern heliports or helipads, with the upcoming phase targeting travel facilitation for four crore UDAN passengers. Mr. Rammohan Naidu also noted that aviation-sector jobs have grown from around 3 million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million today, with potential to reach 25 million by 2040. He stated that more than 90 airports have been built over the past decade under UDAN, extending affordable air travel benefits to nearly 1.54 crore passengers.
The event also witnessed the launch of the Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development and the release of the Scheme Document for the next phase of UDAN route bidding. Under the Challenge Mode, airport projects will be prioritised and fast-tracked to cut construction timelines to an 18-month target from the earlier average of two to three years. The route bidding round process will facilitate the expansion of air services to unserved and underserved regions, improving accessibility and mobility while supporting wider economic activity, tourism, trade and employment.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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