Jodhpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art terminal building at Jodhpur airport on Saturday, marking a major milestone for regional infrastructure in Rajasthan. Alongside the unveiling of the terminal, the Prime Minister officially launched the Modified UDAN scheme, a comprehensive 10-year national aviation initiative backed by an allocation of 28,840 crore rupees. Upon his arrival in Jodhpur, Prime Minister Modi was formally received by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Union Minister and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma before unveiling the inauguration plaque and reviewing the new aviation facility.
The newly constructed terminal building at Jodhpur airport represents an investment of 480 crore rupees and spans an area exceeding 23,000 square metres. Engineered to manage an annual passenger volume of up to 20 lakh travellers, the facility integrates modern passenger services designed to streamline the regional transit experience. Architecturally, the building reflects the traditional royal heritage of Rajasthan, integrating heritage elements like intricate jharokhas and grand arches with contemporary structural engineering. Traditional folk artistes performed regional cultural showcases to commemorate the high-profile delegation visit.
The launch of the Modified UDAN scheme outlines the next decade of regional connectivity goals for India, specifically targeting underserved and remote geographical terrains. The updated framework is backed by targeted capital allocations, including 12,000 crore rupees dedicated to transforming 100 unserved airstrips into functional aerodromes and 3,661 crore rupees to establish 200 modern helipads. To encourage consistent airline participation on low-traffic regional routes, the central government has also earmarked over 10,000 crore rupees for Viability Gap Funding alongside 2,500 crore rupees for ongoing operations and maintenance. Government officials emphasized that these dual aviation projects will significantly stimulate local tourism, expand commercial trade corridors, and generate sustainable long-term employment opportunities throughout the state.
