TBM Staff - Mumbai
The Civil Aviation Ministry announced that 601 routes and 71 airports have been operationalised under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional air connectivity scheme, launched eight years ago. UDAN aims to enhance regional air connectivity and make flying more affordable for the public, with 28% of these routes serving remote locations.
As of now, 86 aerodromes, including 71 airports, 13 heliports, and 2 water aerodromes, are operational, supporting travel for over 1.44 crore passengers across more than 2.8 lakh flights. This has contributed to a significant expansion in India’s aviation network.
The number of operational airports in India has surged from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with a long-term goal to increase the total to 350-400 airports by 2047. The UDAN scheme, launched on October 21, 2016, remains a key initiative in this growth, connecting underserved areas and boosting economic development across the country.
