UDAN to Add 120 New Destinations Over Next Decade

04 Feb 2025 CW Team

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of a revamped UDAN scheme aimed at connecting 120 new destinations over the next 10 years. The regional connectivity initiative, originally introduced in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to make air travel more affordable by linking unserved and underserved airports.

For FY 2025-26, Rs 5.3 billion has been allocated to UDAN, compared to the revised estimate of Rs 8 billion in FY 2024-25. The modified version will also support helipads and small airports in hilly, aspirational, and north-eastern regions. Sitharaman highlighted that UDAN has already benefited 15 million middle-class travellers by enhancing accessibility.

According to the Economic Survey, UDAN has operationalised 619 routes, connecting 88 airports, including two water aerodromes and 13 heliports. Additionally, airport operators, including the Airports Authority of India, have completed 91% of their Rs 910 billion capital expenditure plan for FY 2020-25 as of November 2024.

The minister also announced plans for new greenfield airports in Bihar, alongside the expansion of Patna airport and the development of a brownfield airport at Bihta, further strengthening the country’s aviation infrastructure.

(Hindustan Times)

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..