The Regional Connectivity Scheme–UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) marked a significant achievement in 2025, reinforcing its role as a transformative force in India’s civil aviation sector. Designed to make air travel affordable and accessible for the common citizen, the scheme has substantially reshaped travel patterns by connecting Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and remote regions with the national aviation network.
By the end of 2025, UDAN had enabled affordable air travel for more than 1.56 crore passengers since its launch, reflecting strong adoption among first-time flyers and middle-income travellers. The scheme has operationalised over 649 regional routes, linking 93 aerodromes across the country, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes, significantly expanding the geographical reach of scheduled air services.
The impact of UDAN is also visible in India’s airport infrastructure growth. The number of operational airports in the country has more than doubled over the past decade, increasing from 74 airports in 2014 to around 159 airports by 2024–25. Many of these airports were revived or made operational specifically to support regional connectivity under UDAN.
Affordability remained the cornerstone of the scheme in 2025. With fare caps keeping ticket prices at approximately ₹2,500 for a one-hour flight, air travel has increasingly become a viable option for short-distance journeys that were earlier dependent on road or rail transport. This shift has played a key role in integrating smaller cities into mainstream economic and tourism circuits.
Tourism destinations that were previously considered difficult to access have seen renewed activity due to improved air links. Religious and heritage centres such as Darbhanga, Khajuraho, Deoghar and Agatti Island experienced higher tourist inflows, benefiting local economies, hospitality businesses and allied services. Improved connectivity has also supported emerging urban centres like Indore, Coimbatore and Bhubaneswar, strengthening their position as regional business and education hubs.
To ensure the commercial viability of regional routes, the government continued to support airlines through Viability Gap Funding (VGF). By late 2025, approximately ₹4,300 crore had been disbursed under the scheme, helping airlines sustain operations on routes with lower initial passenger volumes while demand matured.
Beyond passenger travel, UDAN’s impact extended to logistics through the Krishi UDAN initiative. By 2025, this sub-scheme covered 58 airports, enabling faster air transport of perishable agricultural produce, particularly from the Northeast, hilly regions and tribal areas. The initiative has helped farmers gain quicker access to national markets, reducing wastage and improving price realisation.
Overall, 2025 stands out as a milestone year for the UDAN scheme, demonstrating how targeted policy intervention can democratise air travel, stimulate regional development and bridge connectivity gaps. As the scheme continues to evolve, its achievements underline the growing role of regional aviation in supporting inclusive economic growth and balanced infrastructure development across India.
