India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation signed Memoranda of Understanding with 21 states and union territories on 22 September to launch the ‘Challenge Mode’ phase of the UDAN regional-connectivity scheme. The goal: add 120 new airports, airstrips and heliports over the next decade and carry four crore additional passengers, many of whom are expected to be foreign tourists seeking last-mile access beyond the metro cities. Under Challenge Mode, states will nominate locations through a new portal, after which airlines bid for subsidised routes. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the model would ‘unlock eco-tourism circuits from Tezu to Lakshadweep’ while ensuring fares stay within ₹2,500 per 500 km. Since 2017, UDAN has operationalised 687 routes; the modified version adds incentives for night parking and maintenance bases to attract carriers. Global mobility angle: easier domestic legs make India’s e-tourist and business visas more attractive, because travellers can now connect directly from Delhi or Mumbai to tier-2 cities without completing separate bookings. Destination-service providers should monitor forthcoming route-bid results; early indications suggest Deoghar, Port Blair and Khajuraho may get direct flights from Gulf hubs once code-shares are approved. Corporates shuttling staff to project sites also benefit: air connectivity raises the likelihood that expatriates on employment visas can live in metro hubs while commuting weekly, reducing relocation costs.
Source: Press Information Bureau
