Govt to launch modified UDAN scheme, connect 120 new destinations: Sitharaman
By : Sandhya
The government will launch a modified version of its regional connectivity scheme, ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik’ or UDAN, to connect more destinations in the next 10 years, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech on Saturday.
“Inspired by the success of UDAN, a modified scheme will be launched to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations and carry 4 crore additional passengers in the next 10 years,” Sitharaman told Parliament.
“The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and northeastern regional districts,” Sitharaman said. In her speech, Sitharaman said the UDAN scheme had enabled 15 million middle-class people to meet their aspirations for speedier travel. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2016 to improve connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country for making air travel affordable to the masses.