\n<\/p>\n
He inaugurated India\u2019s third \u2019hub & spoke\u2019 operations from Ahmedabad airport on Tuesday, Septermber 1.<\/p>\n
\u201dWhile there were 74 airports in 2014, today we can proudly say that India\u2019s map features 166 airports. Going from 74 to 166 set a record for the country. Over the last 12 years, we completed work on a new airport or a new terminal roughly every 40 days,\u201d Naidu said at the event.<\/p>\n
\u201dThis 12-year journey was merely the beginning for the Ministry of Civil Aviation. We have expanded upon the revolutionary changes brought to the air travel sector by the \u2019UDAN\u2019 scheme over the past decade. Looking ahead, we plan to spend approximately \u20b930,000 crore over the next 10 years to build 100 new airports,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March this year approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme \u2013 Modified UDAN \u2013 for a period of 10 years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with a total outlay of \u20b928,840 crore with the budgetary support of the Centre.<\/p>\n
Naidu was here on Tuesday to inaugurate India\u2019s third \u2019hub & spoke\u2019 operations from Ahmedabad airport, aimed at connecting passengers seamlessly to international destinations. The strategy is meant to transform the country into a global aviation hub by providing seamless international connectivity to passengers from across the country through Indian hub airports.<\/p>\n
The Union minister said civil aviation is the fastest-growing sector<\/a> in the country, and the public demand is no longer just for a railway station or a train stop but for an airport in their own town.<\/p>\n \u201dAnd this demand is not limited to major cities \u2014 it comes from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, Himalayan regions, remote areas, and islands like Lakshadweep and Andaman. Everywhere, people are asking when an airport will be constructed in their area. This is the voice of modern India. We are listening to it, formulating policies accordingly, and moving forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While India is rapidly expanding its airport network, the real challenge lies not in the construction but in how effectively these airports are connected \u2014 both domestically and internationally, Naidu pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201dWhen addressing the need for convenience, we recognised the immense potential of the \u2019hub-and-spoke\u2019 model,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n