Hyderabad: Union civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday announced that the UDAN regional connectivity scheme has been extended for another 10 years, with the Centre aiming to expand India’s aviation infrastructure.Speaking to the media after meeting chief minister A Revanth Reddy in New Delhi, the Union minister said the govt plans to invest nearly ₹30,000 crore to develop 100 new aerodromes and 200 helipads under the next phase of the UDAN scheme.Ram Mohan Naidu said the Centre’s vision is to transform India into a global aviation hub by strengthening regional connectivity and expanding airport infrastructure across the country. He noted that the scheme’s expansion would improve connectivity to smaller cities while boosting economic development and tourism.The Union minister said the Centre is working towards completing the Warangal Airport project by June 2, 2028. Tenders for the boundary wall and runway have already been prepared, while tenders for the terminal building are expected to be floated within the next three to four weeks, he said.Appreciating the Telangana govt for handing over land for the project in record time, Ram Mohan Naidu said there has been no delay in execution and that both the Centre and the state are working closely to expedite construction.He also said the Centre and the state govt are jointly planning a defence-civilian airport in Adilabad. Around 1,500 acres of land are required for the project, and he noted that the state govt’s progress on land acquisition has helped accelerate the process.Responding to political questions, Ram Mohan Naidu said the central govt does not discriminate between NDA-ruled and non-NDA states while implementing infrastructure projects. He stressed that cooperation between the centre and state govts is crucial for the timely execution of development projects, while reiterating that land acquisition remains the responsibility of state govts.
