Government extends UDAN scheme for 10 more years

24 Oct 2024 CW Team

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced on Monday that the government will extend the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN for an additional 10 years. This announcement was made during a function in the national capital, celebrating eight years of the scheme's implementation.

Naidu highlighted that UDAN has fostered the development of regional airlines, created jobs, and contributed significantly to tourism. Currently, 601 routes and 71 airports are operational under the scheme, which was first introduced on October 21, 2016, with the goal of making flying more affordable and enhancing regional air connectivity.

The minister confirmed that the scheme will continue for another decade. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam mentioned that the ministry is focusing on improving the financial viability of the program and streamlining its procedures.

According to the ministry, a total of 86 aerodromes鈥攊ncluding 71 airports, 13 heliports, and 2 water aerodromes鈥攈ave been operationalized, enabling over 14.4 million passengers to travel across more than 280,000 flights.

Furthermore, the number of operational airports in India has increased from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to expand this count to 350-400 by 2047.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Jun 2025

Sembcorp Wins 50 MW RTC Green Power Project from SECI

Sembcorp Industries has secured a 50 MW round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy project from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), further expanding its clean energy footprint in India.To fulfil the contract, Sembcorp will integrate around 300 MW of installed capacity, combining solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to ensure reliable RTC power delivery. The company stated that the project would be developed under a build-own-operate model and is expected to be operational within 24 months of signing the power purchase agreement (PPA).This win was part of SECI鈥檚 1.2 G..

Infrastructure Energy

17 Jun 2025

Crompton Wins Rs 1 Billion Solar Pump Order from MEDA

Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals has secured a Rs 1 billion order from the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) for the design, manufacture, and installation of 4,500 off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems across Maharashtra.The order, awarded under Component B of the PM-KUSUM scheme launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, represents Crompton鈥檚 largest-ever solar pumping systems contract in the solar-water management segment.The project scope includes the supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and five-year maintenance of the solar pumps at variou..

Infrastructure Energy

17 Jun 2025

ACME Solar Adds 19.8 MW Wind Power in Gujarat

ACME Solar Holdings Ltd has announced the commissioning of an additional 19.8 MW of wind power capacity at its Shapur project in Gujarat, bringing its total operational renewable energy portfolio to 2,826.2 MW.In May, the company had commissioned 26.4 MW of the planned 50 MW wind project. With the current phase contributing another 19.8 MW, the total installed capacity at Shapur now stands at 46.2 MW.The project is nearing full completion and is expected to be entirely commissioned in the coming days, the company stated.With this addition, ACME Solar continues to strengthen its presence in the..