A new factsheet published by the Press Information Bureau on 20 October 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme—UDAN—and outlines a revamped, ₹28,840 crore ‘Modified UDAN’ for 2026-2036. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the inaugural Shimla–Delhi flight in 2017, UDAN has opened 687 routes and operationalised 95 aerodromes, carrying 17.2 million passengers. India now boasts 166 operational airports, up from 74 in 2014, making it the world’s third-largest domestic market. The next phase shifts from pure Viability Gap Funding to a “challenge mode” whereby states compete to identify airstrips, with an eye on indigenous aircraft manufacturing and green-field heliports. For multinational firms the scheme has shrunk travel times to factory towns such as Tezu and Deoghar, enabling same-day site visits instead of overnight rail journeys. The Modified UDAN promises further reach into tier-three cities, potentially lowering relocation costs for expatriate managers who currently endure multi-leg connections. Travel managers should watch tender outcomes closely; airlines winning new UDAN routes often launch limited promotional fares that can trim project budgets, but schedules may be thin (three flights a week) and prone to weather cancellations.
Source: Press Information Bureau
