UDAN Scheme aims to make flying affordable and connect smaller towns across India. It is a government scheme to link less-served airports and offer cheaper flights to everyone. If you want to know what benefits you can get and how the scheme works, keep reading. This article covers all you need to know about UDAN Scheme 2025, its goals, benefits, and how it helps you travel easily by plane.
About UDAN Scheme 2025
The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme is a regional connectivity program by the Indian government. Its goal is to improve air travel by making it cheaper and more available, especially for smaller cities. The scheme started in 2016 and helped connect small towns with big cities through affordable flights. Since 2017, many passengers have flown at low fares because of this scheme. UDAN plans to connect 1000 air routes and aims to have 1 crore people flying each year at lower costs.
Main Details of UDAN Scheme
| Scheme Name | UDAN Scheme |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Who Benefits | All Indian Citizens |
| Main Goal | Affordable Air Travel |
| Website | Visit Here |
| Year | 2025 |
Overview of UDAN Scheme
The main idea behind the UDAN Scheme is to connect small and medium cities with bigger cities using flights. It makes flying affordable so more people in India can travel by air without spending a lot. The government supports airlines with subsidies to keep prices low. This saves your time and money while improving the overall quality of life. It also helps create jobs in different aviation roles and supports regional development.
How Does UDAN Scheme Work?
- Airlines bid for selected air routes under the scheme.
- The airline asking for the lowest subsidy gets the route.
- Airlines sell tickets at affordable prices with some seats reserved at low fares.
- More small towns get connected to the rest of the country by air.
- Airfare for a 500 km flight is fixed at Rs 2500, cheaper than taxi rates.
- Cheaper fares help you save money and time.
- New jobs are created in airport operations, aircraft maintenance, and other areas.
- The scheme promotes tourism by connecting 46 main tourist spots.
Launch and Growth of UDAN Scheme
- The National Civil Aviation Policy was announced in 2016, including the UDAN Scheme.
- UDAN was launched in October 2016 to provide affordable flights.
- The first scheduled flight started in April 2017 from Shimla to Delhi, flagged off by PM Narendra Modi.
- The government offers viability gap funding to airlines to cover losses from low fares.
- Airport fees are waived by the Airport Authority of India to reduce costs.
- State governments provide free services like security and fire fighting support for airports.
Progress Under UDAN Scheme
- Scheme approved in phases: UDAN 1 to UDAN 4 successfully implemented.
- 98 airports, 33 heliports, and 12 aerodromes included in the program.
- Flights operate on over 350 routes across 59 airports, including 5 helicopters and 2 aerodromes.
- Helicopter and seaplane services added to connect remote areas.
- 11 operators offer affordable tickets, with over 1,32,800 flights as of June 2024.
- Subsidy of Rs 1228 crore given to keep fares low.
- More than 60 lakh passengers have flown on affordable fares so far.
- Small and medium city airport usage has increased by 5%.
- Plans to add 1000 more routes and 100 new airports.
- Introduction of 10 water aerodromes with 28 heliports and seaplanes.
- Ten new airports planned in Northeast India.
- Target to issue 1 crore affordable tickets yearly.
- Over 150 out of 300 cities in the country are now connected by air services.
Benefits and Features of UDAN Scheme
- UDAN improves regional airports and air routes in India.
- It aims at affordable and widespread air travel for the public.
- Small towns gain air links to bigger cities, making travel easier.
- Started in 2017, connecting many passengers at low fares as low as Rs 2500.
- Focuses on connecting 1000 routes, with 1 crore travelers expected yearly in 2025.