AAI plans to develop 100 airports, waterdromes, heliports by 2024.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to develop at least 100 airports, waterdromes, and heliports by 2024 under the regional air connectivity scheme, said an official release.

The fourth anniversary of the scheme — known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) — was commemorated recently.

The scheme aims to provide affordable, economically viable, and profitable air travel on regional routes.

“50 unserved and underserved airports (including five heliports) with 285 routes have been added under UDAN across the length and breadth of India. As the implementing agency, AAI has an ambitious plan to develop at least 100 airports/ waterdromes/ heliports by 2024 under the scheme,” said the release.

During a video conference to commemorate UDAN Day on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said stakeholders should work towards making the scheme sustainable on its own and improve its efficiency.

He also urged airlines to undertake marketing initiatives so that more people can take benefit of the scheme, as per the release.

AAI Chairman Arvind Singh said the authority was committed to building the infrastructure required for the scheme across the country. Joint Secretary at the ministry, Usha Padhee, said the government has acknowledged the contribution of the UDAN initiative and identified October 21 — the day on which the UDAN document was first released — as UDAN Day.

BS