19 States Sign MoUs to Convert 100 Unused Airstrips Under UDAN's Next Phase

Nineteen states signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday, formally launching the next phase of the regional connectivity scheme, UDAN. The agreements, signed in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, set in motion a challenge mode framework under which unused airstrips across the country will be developed into fully operational airports.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol described the occasion as the start of a new chapter for the sector, saying the initiative was moving from paper to the ground. He noted that domestic airports handled around 42 crore passengers in 2025-26 and that India is the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, with annual passenger numbers expected to reach roughly 50 crore by 2030. That growth, he said, rests on two pillars: a larger infrastructure push and the rapid adoption of technology.

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the next phase is not simply an extension of UDAN but a redesign drawing on nearly a decade of experience. The first decade, he noted, demonstrated that regional demand exists; the task now is to turn that demand into a reliable and commercially sustainable regional aviation network. He added that states and Union territories are best placed to identify where air connectivity can generate the greatest economic and social value, while the central government supplies the policy framework, financial support and institutional coordination. States, in turn, must ensure timely availability of land, road and public transport links, utilities, security and fire services, along with necessary concessions and effective last-mile connectivity.

Sinha also pointed to the scheme's operational record since 2016: 687 UDAN routes have linked 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, supporting more than 3.58 lakh flights and carrying over 1.68 crore passengers to remote destinations including Pasighat, Pithoragarh, Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Kishangarh and Tezu.

The revamped programme has been cleared with an outlay of Rs 29,000 crore over ten years. It targets connecting 120 additional destinations, establishing 200 helipads and facilitating travel for four crore passengers.

Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar outlined the execution plan, saying the MoUs mark the rollout of the challenge mode for regional airport creation. Many airstrips remain unused and await a new lease of life, he said, adding that through this mode the aim is to develop nearly 100 such airstrips into fully operational airports in the year ahead.