With more routes, runways, Udan set to go full throttle

Already the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, India is set to witness a surge in air travel with a modified version of the ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik’ (Udan) scheme.
In her Budget speech, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said govt will expand regional connectivity to 120 new destinations with an aim to carry 4 crore passengers over the next decade.She also proposed new greenfield airports for Bihar, along with the expansion of the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna and the development of a brownfield airport at Bihta near Patna.
Sitharaman said Udan had enabled 1.5 crore middle-class people to access faster travel, connecting 88 airports and operationalising 619 routes. “Inspired by that success, a modified Udan scheme will be launched… The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and districts in North-Eastern states,” she said.
The push to develop tourism by enhancing the country’s top 50 destinations, streamlining e-visa facilities, and introducing visa-fee waivers for select tourist groups is expected to drive air traffic further. Meanwhile, Indian airlines continue their rapid expansion, reinforcing the country’s position as a growing aviation hub.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said: “The Budget has outlined various great initiatives to develop a future-ready travel ecosystem, with emphasis on people and infrastructure, and aviation as a key enabler. Investment in world-class airports, regional connectivity, capacity upgrades, and streamlined visa facilities will play a critical role in bringing this vision of India as a global aviation hub to life. By strengthening both domestic and international connectivity, we are fuelling economic progress, bridging communities, and reinforcing aviation’s role as a catalyst for national growth.”
Air India Express MD Aloke Singh said the continued focus on aviation and tourism, along with new airports and a modified Udan scheme, would spread the benefits of air travel across the country. “The focus on developing 50 tourist destinations and promoting medical tourism will stimulate fresh demand, create new travel corridors, and strengthen the aviation ecosystem…” he said.