India Plans 100 New Airports Under ₹30,000 Crore UDAN Outlay

India plans to build 100 new airports over the next 10 years under the Centre's regional connectivity scheme UDAN, Union Minister for Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu announced on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The expansion is backed by an outlay of approximately ₹30,000 crore.

Speaking at the inauguration of India's third 'hub & spoke' operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad, the minister noted the growth in the country's aviation infrastructure. According to the ministry, India's airport count has increased from 74 in 2014 to 166. Over the past 12 years, the country completed work on a new airport or a new terminal roughly every 40 days.

In March of this year, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Modified UDAN. The program is set for a period of 10 years, spanning from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore backed by budgetary support from the Centre.

Addressing the gathering, Naidu highlighted that public demand for aviation infrastructure is no longer limited to major cities. Citizens from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, Himalayan regions, remote areas, and islands such as Lakshadweep and Andaman are increasingly seeking local airport connectivity. To address these demands while ensuring efficient transit, the ministry is focusing on the 'hub-and-spoke' model to connect domestic passengers seamlessly to international destinations.

Ahmedabad was chosen as the location for the country's third hub-and-spoke operation due to the large global NRI community from Gujarat. The initiative follows similar rollouts in Varanasi and Amritsar. Delhi currently offers direct connectivity to 54 destinations, and the new model aims to leverage existing international hubs to route passengers from various domestic locations.

The minister emphasized that the civil aviation sector is currently the fastest-growing sector in the country, noting its capacity to generate economic activity and employment across multiple industries. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi were also present at the inauguration event.

"The expansion of the regional connectivity scheme UDAN with a substantial outlay of ₹30,000 crore highlights a strategic push toward strengthening India's aviation infrastructure. By focusing on tier-2 and tier-3 cities alongside a hub-and-spoke operational model, the initiative addresses the growing logistics and travel demands of modern commerce. For businesses, founders, and regional enterprises, improved transit connectivity translates to reduced travel friction, better market access, and accelerated economic growth across smaller economic hubs in the country." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes