The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the launch of the implementation of the modified regional connectivity scheme – UDAN. Sharing the details, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the scheme has been approved for a period of ten years, from the financial year 2026-27 to 2035-36, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore, with budgetary support from the Government of India.ย The Union Minister also said that 100 airports will be developed from existing unserved airstrips under the scheme. The total outlay for developing the airports will be Rs 12,159 crore over the next eight years.ย
Also, the aim is to develop 200 modern helipads, entailing a total requirement of Rs 3,661 crore over the next eight years, an official release said. Under the scheme, airlines will be provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs 10,043 crore over the 10-year period.ย UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) was launched in October 2016 to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel more affordable.ย
The Cabinet has also approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme beyond March 31, 2026, for a period of five years from 01 April, 2026, to 31 March, 2031, with a budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore.ย