Parliament Question: Flight and routes operationalized under UDAN scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 970 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th February 2026 FLIGHTS AND ROUTES OPERATIONALIZED UNDER UDAN SCHEME 970. SHRI K.R.N. RAJESHKUMAR Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the total number of flights and routes operationalized under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme during 2024-25 and 2025-26 and the steps taken to ensure the longterm viability of these regional routes by private airlines; (b) the progress made in the privatisation and modernization of existing airports and the timeline for commissioning the new greenfield airports currently under construction in major metropolitan areas; and (c) the measures being implemented to address the severe Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff shortage and airport congestion issues experienced at India's busiest airports? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a): 66 routes (2024-25) and 38 (2025-26) routes have been operationalised under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). In order to improve long term sustainability of connectivity under the UDAN Scheme, the following approach is adopted: 1.To leverage the expertise of the relevant State Government in their respective regions, they have been requested to identify and prioritize high-potential aerodromes that can be developed and operationalised. 2.Airlines have been asked to submit business plans for timely operationalization, prior to the award of the route. The Implementing Agency has also been publishing the list of prioritized aerodromes that are ready or likely to be ready. Further, routes that were discontinued in the past rounds are also rebid, awarded and operationalised in subsequent rounds. (b): Airports Authority of India (AAI) has leased out eight airports namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru for Operations, Management and Development under Public Private Partnership (PPP). The PPP partners have undertaken various modernisation/ expansion works after taking over the airports from AAI. Further, Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted "In-Principle" approval to Parandur, Noida (Jewar) and Navi Mumbai in proximity to Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, respectively. Of these, Navi Mumbai airport has been operationalised in 2025.The timeline for completion of the airport projects depends upon many factors such as land acquisition, availability of mandatory clearances including environmental clearances, financial closure etc. (c): At present, there is no capacity constraint at airports serving six metropolitan cities viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Airport operators have been sensitized to keep the airports congestion-free and provide seamless travel experience to passengers. ******