UDAN fulfilling dreams of common man
The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) initiative has brought affordable air travel to underserved regions, enhancing connectivity to the Kullu-Manali Airport at Bhuntar with new routes to Jaipur, Dehradun, and Amritsar.
With flight tickets typically priced around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000, the programme has made air travel accessible to the average Indian, fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “common man in slippers” on a flight.
These new routes have created a religious and tourist circuit, linking popular destinations like Haridwar, Amritsar, and Jaipur with Kullu. As a result, travelers bound for Haridwar often choose to fly to Dehradun, while Manikaran near Kullu, a pilgrimage site for Sikhs, draws visitors to the area.
The connectivity provided by UDAN has already boosted tourism and improved business in Kullu, according to Kullu Travel Agent Association president Atishaye. He noted that airfares from Kullu to Delhi typically exceed Rs 15,000, making UDAN’s affordable flights a significant benefit for the local population. Atishaye further urged the government to extend UDAN services to Chandigarh and Shimla, which would provide Kullu residents easier access to healthcare and other essential facilities.
Launched in 2016, UDAN took its inaugural flight on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi. The scheme has since expanded to many tier-2 and tier-3 cities, bringing transformative change to Indian aviation and stimulating tourism.
The recently introduced UDAN 5.1 focuses on enhancing helicopter services in remote, hilly areas, further fostering tourism and economic growth. Indian airlines have expanded their fleets in response to a doubling of domestic air passengers over the past decade, underscoring UDAN’s role in opening up the skies to a wider population.
