Prime Minister Narendra Modi has applauded the success of the UDAN scheme, highlighting how the initiative has made revolutionary changes in India’s aviation sector by adding smaller cities and making air travel affordable. He also underlined the rise in the number of air routes, and airports bringing air travel within reach of the common man on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the scheme on social media handle X.

The UDAN initiative or ”Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik” scheme has played a crucial role in boosting air connectivity and uplifting regional growth and trade. PM Modi also stated that the government continues to make an effort to strengthen the aviation sector. The government’s focus is on improving the comfort of the passengers and to enhance better connectivity. As per a detail provided on a government handle on X, under the scheme around 2.8 lakh flights have been operated and about 1.5 crore passengers have gained from the scheme and have experienced affordable air tickets.

As the scheme completes eight years of its launch, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has mentioned that the government aims to extend the UDAN scheme for the next ten years. The ministry is also planning to streamline the scheme’s procedures and to work on the financial viability of it.