AAI Plans To Develop At Least 100 Airports, Waterdromes And Heliports By 2024 Under UDAN Scheme

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to develop at least 100 airports, waterdromes and heliports across the country by 2024 under the government's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), a Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) statement said on Wednesday (21 October).

Launched in 2016, UDAN is Modi government's flagship programme which aims to provide affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes.

"50 unserved and underserved airports (including five heliports) with 285 routes have been added under UDAN across the length and breadth of India. As the implementing agency, AAI has an ambitious plan to develop at least 100 airports/ waterdromes/ heliports by 2024 under the scheme," the statement said.

During a video conference to commemorate the UDAN day on Wednesday (21 October), the Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said that the stakeholders should work towards making the UDAN scheme sustainable on its own and improve its efficiency, the statement said.

He also urged the airlines to undertake marketing initiatives so that more and more people can take benefit of the UDAN scheme.

On the occasion, AAI chairman Arvind Singh said that the agency is committed to build the infrastructure required for the UDAN scheme across the country.