India to Build 100 New Airports with ₹30,000 Crore Investment

India’s Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced plans to construct 100 new airports across the nation over the next decade. This ambitious expansion, part of the UDAN scheme, involves an investment of Rs 30,000 crore.

The Union Cabinet has approved a modified version of the UDAN scheme, which will guide this significant infrastructure push. This revised scheme is slated to run from FY 2026-27 through FY 2035-36, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore.

Key Expansion Figures

• Current operational airports: 166
• Operational airports in 2014: 74
• New airports planned: 100
• Overall investment for new airports: Rs 30,000 crore
• Modified UDAN scheme outlay: Rs 28,840 crore

Expanding Connectivity: The Hub & Spoke Model

Minister Naidu also inaugurated India’s third ‘hub & spoke’ operation, launching from the Ahmedabad airport. This strategic model aims to transform India into a global aviation hub by optimizing international connectivity.

The ‘hub & spoke’ approach focuses on several key outcomes to enhance the nation’s aviation network. It is designed to provide seamless international connectivity from diverse regions, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and remote areas.

This model has already demonstrated positive results in Varanasi and Amritsar, significantly boosting both domestic and international connectivity. Its expansion is crucial for the overall enhancement of the country’s aviation infrastructure.

The civil aviation sector has emerged as the fastest-growing in India, with the number of operational airports significantly increasing from 74 in 2014 to 166 currently. This substantial expansion directly responds to public demand from across the country.

The planned expansion of the airport network is anticipated to stimulate substantial economic activity. Furthermore, it is expected to generate considerable employment opportunities throughout India over the next ten years.