Parliament Question: Development of Airports under UDAN Scheme

**Executive Summary** This document provides a response to Unstarred Question No. 2191 in the Lok Sabha regarding the development of airports under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, to be answered on February 12, 2026. It details the number of airports developed under the scheme that are currently non-operational, the expenditure incurred, and the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) released for routes. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Airport Development and Status:** * As of January 20, 2026, 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 12 heliports and 2 water aerodromes, have been developed and operationalized across the country under the UDAN Scheme. * **Non-Operational Airports:** * Identifies nine locations with specific non-operational airports: * Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh * Bhavnagar in Gujarat * Shimla in Himachal Pradesh * Kalaburgi in Karnataka * Datia in Madhya Pradesh * Ludhiana and Pathankot in Punjab * Pakyong in Sikkim * Kushinagar, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Shravasti and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh * Cooch Behar in West Bengal * **Expenditure and Funding:** * A total of Rs. 831.33 Cr. has been incurred towards the development of the said airports. * There is no provision under the UDAN Scheme for the management and upkeep of non-operational airports. * Rs. 260.2 Cr. has been disbursed towards VGF for routes connecting these airports. * **Viability Assessment:** * The commercial and operational viability of airports and routes under the UDAN (RCS) Scheme is assessed through a market-based bidding process. * Routes are awarded VGF support for a fixed period of three years. * Airlines are expected to operate without subsidy after this three-year period based on passenger demand and commercial feasibility. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholder: Ministry of Civil Aviation** * **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing the development and operationalization of airports under the UDAN Scheme and for managing the associated finances. * **Action Required:** Continue monitoring the operational status of airports, managing the disbursement of VGF, and evaluating the long-term viability of routes. **Stakeholder: Airport Operators** * **Impact:** Operators of UDAN airports are affected by the availability of VGF and the requirement to achieve commercial viability after the subsidy period. * **Action Required:** Need to develop strategies for increasing passenger demand and ensuring long-term operational sustainability. **Stakeholder: Airlines** * **Impact:** Airlines operating under the UDAN scheme benefit from the VGF for a limited period, after which they must sustain operations based on market demand. * **Action Required:** Assess route viability, optimise operations to ensure flights remain commercially viable after the VGF period. **Stakeholder: General Public / Passengers** * **Impact:** Passengers benefit from improved connectivity to underserved regions, but could be impacted if routes become unviable after the withdrawal of subsidies. * **Action Required:** Utilize and promote the new routes to ensure they become self-sustainable after the subsidy period.

Key Entities Referenced