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India’s UDAN scheme sought to link remote towns via affordable regional flights, but many small airports now sit idle despite massive government spending on construction and upkeep—hundreds of crores down the drain due to low passenger demand, unprofitable routes, and high maintenance costs, leaving infrastructure unused and ambitions unmet.
Tamil Nadu’s ambitious Hosur international airport on 2,300+ acres, designed for 3 crore annual passengers, has been excluded from UDAN scheme due to Bengaluru Airport’s 150km exclusivity clause valid until 2033. State refuses central funding and plans independent development, possibly with private partners. Meanwhile, UDAN licensing proceeds for Vellore and Neyveli airports (₹84.9 crore).
The UDAN project, which was launched with the aim of connecting the remote areas of India with the country’s major cities, has not achieved the expected success in many regions today, as the field conditions show. Although new infrastructure has been built under this ambitious project of the Central Government, they remain empty terminals, not being used by the people.
