India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) Secretary and senior officials, marked the 8th anniversary of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing regional connectivity across the country.
Launched in 2017, the scheme has significantly improved access to air travel for underserved regions, connecting remote parts of India with global destinations and benefitting millions of passengers.
During an event in New Delhi on Monday, Minister Naidu highlighted the success of UDAN, noting that the scheme has been instrumental in revolutionizing air travel in India. “Under the UDAN scheme, 601 routes and 86 airports have been operationalized, benefitting 14.4 million passengers so far,” he stated. The initiative, which aims to make air travel affordable for the common citizen, has transformed connectivity in India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities, opening up new opportunities for economic and tourism growth.
The first RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme) flight was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi. Since then, the scheme has focused on improving air routes in unserved and underserved regions, allowing common citizens to benefit from enhanced connectivity. With more than 144 lakh passengers having traveled under the scheme, UDAN has become a cornerstone of India’s civil aviation strategy.
The scheme has also catalyzed the growth of India’s civil aviation sector by providing a favorable environment for new airlines. Over the past seven years, UDAN has enabled the rise of regional airlines like Flybig, Star Air, IndiaOne Air, and Fly91, which have developed sustainable business models thanks to the scheme. Their success, according to Minister Naidu, is proof that the initiative is fostering an airline ecosystem that promotes business growth and last-mile connectivity.
In addition to connecting remote regions, UDAN has played a vital role in stimulating tourism, particularly in regions with significant religious and cultural importance. The introduction of UDAN 3.0 expanded tourism routes in India’s Northeast, while UDAN 5.1 is focused on helicopter services in hilly areas, further supporting tourism and local economies.
The scheme has successfully connected destinations like Khajuraho, Deoghar, Amritsar, and Kishangarh (Ajmer), which are popular for religious tourism. In the Northeast, the introduction of airports in Pasighat, Ziro, Hollongi, and Tezu has led to a surge in tourism. Additionally, the operationalization of the airport at Agatti Island has boosted tourism in the Lakshadweep islands.
The UDAN scheme has operationalized airports across 34 states and union territories, from Mundra in Gujarat to Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, and from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh to Salem in Tamil Nadu. In the Northeast alone, ten airports and two heliports have been developed under the initiative.
Airports that were previously underutilized or dormant, like those in Darbhanga, Prayagraj, Hubli, Belgaum, and Kannur, are now seeing non-RCS commercial flights and are on their way to becoming self-sustaining hubs for air travel.
As the scheme celebrates its eighth anniversary, it stands as a symbol of India’s commitment to bridging the gap between its urban centers and remote regions, providing not only improved connectivity but also economic opportunities through tourism and development.
