New Delhi, March 26 -- The Union cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a revamped regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN, with an outlay of Rs.28,840 crore for 10 years for development of airports and airstrips, and boost connectivity. Airlines will be provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs.10,043 crore over the period to operate UDAN routes. The scheme, to run from FY27 to FY36, will focus on underserved and unserved regions, the government said. Since its launch in 2017, UDAN has seen more than 341,000 flights, carrying 16.24 million passengers. The modified scheme includes development of aerodromes, their operations and maintenance (O&M), creation of modern helipads, and continued VGF support. The government plans to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips, with an outlay of Rs.12,159 crore over the next eight years. To address high operating costs and limited revenues at regional airports, the scheme proposes O&M support for three years - capped at Rs.3.06 crore annually per airport and Rs.0.90 crore per heliport or water aerodrome - at an estimated Rs.2,577 crore for around 441 facilities. To improve last-mile connectivity in remote and hilly regions, 200 modern helipads will be developed at a cost of Rs.15 crore each, amounting to Rs.3,661 crore. The government also plans to procure two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air to address shortages of small aircraft in difficult terrains and support domestic manufacturing. The UDAN scheme, launched in 2016, has undergone multiple phases. In over nine years, 663 routes have been operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes. Of 925 routes awarded so far, 327 have been discontinued due to factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, aircraft shortages, maintenance issues and low passenger demand. To improve sustainability and expand connectivity, the modified scheme aims to connect 120 new destinations and cater to 40 million passengers over the next decade. Since inception, Rs.4,593.28 crore has been disbursed as VGF to airlines. Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said 15 of the 95 operationalised aerodromes are currently shut. He added that the revised scheme will prioritise connectivity in hilly and remote areas, including those not covered earlier....