10. UDAN Scheme: Analyzing the Deceleration in Regional Connectivity

The Union Government\'s flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)—UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik)—has witnessed a significant slowdown in FY26. With only four airports operationalized, the current fiscal marks a nine-year low. While the Ministry of Civil Aviation attributes this to the increasing complexity of remaining projects, the trend raises critical questions regarding the sustainability of regional aviation and the operational viability of smaller airstrips. Key Summary of UDAN Performance and Trends • Record Low Operationalization: In FY26, only four airports (Amravati, Purnea, Datia, and Satna) were operationalized, significantly missing the budgetary target of 12 new airports. • Operational Sustainability Issues: A major challenge is the \'reversion\' of airports; for instance, Datia became nonoperational shortly after inauguration due to airline service suspensions, while Satna found no bidders. • Transition in Project Nature: The Ministry notes that \'low-hanging fruit\' (airstrips requiring minor upgrades) were exhausted in earlier phases. Remaining projects involve complex land acquisition, multiagency clearances, and extensive airside works. • Fiscal Trajectory: Airport additions peaked in FY19 (18 airports) but have seen a steady decline, dropping from 10 in FY24 to 6 in FY25, and finally 4 in the current year. • Current Infrastructure Status: Out of 93 airports developed under the scheme since 2016, 15 are currently non-operational, reflecting the fragility of the regional aviation ecosystem. • Strategic Reach: Despite the slowdown, the scheme maintains a network of 78 operational airports covering 650 routes, connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns with major economic hubs. Definitions of Key Concepts • VGF (Viability Gap Funding): A financial concession provided by the government to bridge the gap between the cost of operations and expected revenues, making unviable routes attractive to airlines. • Water Aerodromes: An area of open water used regularly by seaplanes or amphibious aircraft for landing and taking off. • Airside Works: Activities related to the movement area of an airport, including runways, taxiways, and aprons, which require stringent safety validations. Constitutional & Legal Framework

Challenges to Regional Connectivity • Airline Failure: Small regional carriers (e.g., FlyBig) often struggle with high operating costs and maintenance issues, leading to the sudden closure of UDAN routes. • Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Lack of night landing facilities and specialized equipment at smaller airports limits the number of daily flights. • Land Acquisition: State governments often struggle to provide the required land for runway extensions, which is a prerequisite for larger aircraft (like ATR-72 or Q400). • Demand Volatility: Unlike metros, regional routes often see seasonal or erratic passenger loads, making them heavily dependent on government subsidies. Conclusion The slowdown in UDAN\'s expansion highlights a shift from \'quantity\' to \'complexity.\' While the initial phases successfully revived existing airstrips, the future of the scheme depends on solving deep-rooted structural issues: land availability, regional airline stability, and the high cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The transition toward more difficult greenfield and brownfield projects necessitates a more robust partnership between the Centre and States to ensure that \'connectivity\' translates into \'sustainability.\' UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. • GS Paper III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.; Effects of liberalization on the economy. • Current Affairs: Sectoral performance of the Indian economy and the status of \'Ease of Doing Business\' in the transport sector.