The Ministry of Civil Aviation has signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with States and Union Territories under the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, marking a significant step towards expanding regional air connectivity and moving the programme into its next stage of implementation.
The MoUs were signed between the Ministry of Civil Aviation, participating States and Union Territories, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The agreements establish a framework for closer coordination on identifying aviation requirements, developing infrastructure and supporting the operationalisation of regional air connectivity initiatives.
The signing ceremony was held in New Delhi and was inaugurated by Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, in the presence of Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation; Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; and Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, along with senior government officials.
The latest agreements are intended to strengthen coordination between the Centre, States and aviation infrastructure agencies as new and underserved regional routes are identified. The framework also provides a mechanism for aligning infrastructure development with connectivity requirements across participating regions.
Launched with the objective of making air travel more accessible and strengthening connectivity to underserved and unserved destinations, the UDAN scheme has been a key component of India’s regional aviation development efforts.
With the signing of these 21 MoUs, the next phase is set to focus on translating identified regional requirements into infrastructure and connectivity initiatives. The development is expected to further integrate smaller cities and regional centres into India’s wider aviation network while supporting economic activity, tourism and mobility across participating States and Union Territories.
