Today, the Union Cabinet approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN, for a period of ten years from 2026-27 to 2035-36, with a total budget of 28,840 crore rupees. Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that 100 airports will be developed from existing unserved airstrips to enhance regional connectivity. This will lead to improved air connectivity to underserved and unserved areas. It will also boost economic growth, trade, and tourism in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and provide affordable air travel for ordinary citizens. This will also lead to improved emergency response and healthcare access in remote and hilly regions, and greater viability and sustainability for regional airports and airline operators.
The original UDAN Scheme was launched in October 2016 with the objective of making air travel affordable and strengthening connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Over nine years of implementation, 663 routes have been operationalized across 95 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes.
The Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme beyond March 31, 2026, for a period of five years from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, with a budget of 1800 crore rupees. The IVFRT platform aims to interlink and optimize functions related to immigration, visa issuance, and the registration of foreigners in India. The core objective of IVFRT is to modernize and upgrade immigration and visa services within a secure and integrated service delivery framework. It aims to facilitate legitimate travelers while strengthening national security. This project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on May 13, 2010, with a budget of 1011 crore rupees and a project duration until September 2014.