6 out of UP's 7 new airports lie deserted after crores spent under Udan scheme

An RTI reply has revealed that six out of seven airports in Uttar Pradesh that began commercial operations in 2021 under the centre's flagship Udan scheme no longer run flights. Only Ayodhya airport remains operational. An RTI reply from the Airports Authority of India exposed the situation across Azamgarh, Aligarh, Muradabad, Kushinagar and Chitrakoot airports, where hundreds of crores were spent to boost regional connectivity. The Azamgarh airport, inaugurated in March 2024, shut down operations abruptly due to technical objections and low visibility requirements. Aligarh airport, upgraded with over Rs 100 crore under Udan, cannot attract major airline operators and is primarily used for training. Muradabad airport, intended as a game changer for the brass export industry, saw regular flights last only a few months. Kushinagar airport, launched in 2021 to link Buddhist pilgrimage sites, shut down shortly after launch. Chitrakoot airport remains non-functional for commercial travel for the past 14 months despite a high-profile inauguration. The grounded airports have sparked a political blame game, with critics questioning whether the government had a proper roadmap. Low passenger footfall, inadequate connectivity, and technical issues were cited as primary reasons for the failures.