The Union Cabinet has approved the rollout of the Regional Connectivity Scheme -Modified Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) for a period of ten years, from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, with a total outlay of Rs 288.4 billion on March 25, 2026. Key components of the scheme include the development of 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips, with an estimated outlay of Rs 121.59 billion over the next eight years. The scheme also proposes to provide operations and maintenance support for three years, capped at Rs 30.6 million per annum per airport and Rs 9 million per annum per heliport or water aerodrome, amounting to approximately Rs 25.77 billion for around 441 aerodromes.
The scheme also proposes for the development of 200 modern helipads at Rs 150 million each, requiring a total of Rs 36.61 billion over the next eight years. Viability gap funding support for airline operators is proposed at Rs 100.43 billion over ten years. The scheme also proposes for the procurement of two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air.