Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at Jodhpur Airport in Rajasthan, a modern facility developed at a cost of approximately Rs 480 crore.
The event also marked the launch of the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme known as UDAN, aimed at further expanding affordable air travel across the country.
Blending Rajputana Heritage with Modern Infrastructure
The expansive new facility spans a total footprint of 2.52 lakh (252,000) square feet, which makes the new infrastructure roughly six times larger than the old, saturated terminal building.
The new terminal is designed to significantly enhance passenger experience and capacity at Jodhpur Airport.
Key features of the upgraded facility include state-of-the-art infrastructure, improved amenities, and better connectivity to support both domestic and international travellers.
The development is expected to boost tourism, business travel, and overall economic activity in the region, which is known for its rich cultural heritage and strategic importance.
During the inauguration, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of world-class airport infrastructure in strengthening India’s aviation sector and promoting regional development.
The exterior facade of the new terminal draws heavily from classical Rajputana architecture. Its prominent architectural anchor is a massive fluted dome crowned by a decorative kalash resting on a lotus-shaped base.
The entrance mimics a grand palace gateway, utilizing traditional multifoil arches, sandstone-resembling finishes, and ornamental pillars.
Inside, the passenger transit halls are designed to replicate a royal court space. The design incorporates custom jharokha motifs and traditional Marwar-style artworks.
Local artists were commissioned to create vibrant, regional paintings featuring iconic peacock murals, traditional folk musicians, and scenes from historic royal courts.
The design structurally references Jodhpur’s long-standing relationship with flight, which began in 1931 when Maharaja Umaid Singh established the historic Jodhpur Flying Club.
While optimized to manage 20 lakh (2 million) passengers annually, the facility can comfortably handle a peak-hour crowd of up to 1,500 travelers.
To manage this traffic, the interior layout implements island-style check-in counters and linear security lanes to separate the arrival and departure flows cleanly.
The upgraded airside tarmac facilities have been widened to support direct boarding via 6 integrated passenger aerobridges.
The terminal utilizes deep structural roof overhangs to cast natural shade and block harsh solar rays, reducing indoor heat. This is paired with climate-responsive glazing on the windows, high-performance Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels, smart energy-saving HVAC systems, and a large rooftop solar panel setup.
Launch of the Modified ‘Viksit UDAN’ Scheme
Alongside the terminal inauguration, PM Modi launched the next generation of the flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme, officially titled “Modified UDAN” (also known as Viksit UDAN).
This revamped phase establishes a long-term, decade-long policy roadmap spanning ten years from FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36.
Moving decisively beyond short-term operational subsidies, the structural framework prioritizes building permanent, sustainable aviation infrastructure to align with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
The comprehensive national phase is backed by a massive fiscal commitment of ₹28,840 crore (roughly ₹29,000 crore) in budgetary support from the Government of India. The scheme aims to fundamentally democratize Indian airspace through multi-billion-crore allocations divided into strategic sub-components:
• Regional Aerodrome Expansion: A major ₹12,159 crore has been earmarked over the next eight years to transform 100 currently unserved regional airstrips into fully functional, active commercial aerodromes.
• Last-Mile Heliport Networks: To tackle deep geographic isolation, ₹3,661 crore is dedicated to constructing 200 modern helipads across India’s most remote, mountainous, and island regions, securing emergency response and medical access.
• Sustained Operational Viability: The policy allocates ₹10,043 crore over the 10-year horizon for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to keep airfares affordable for the common citizen, alongside a ₹2,577 crore fund to subsidize operations and maintenance (O&M) costs for around 441 regional airports.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Manufacturing: To solve structural aircraft shortages in difficult terrain, the blueprint directly finances the procurement of indigenous aviation assets, including HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and HAL Dornier fixed-wing planes for Alliance Air.
By shifting the focus toward a self-reliant fleet and permanent regional hubs, the Modified UDAN framework acts as a long-term economic catalyst, systematically connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to the national growth corridor.
Jodhpur, often called the “Blue City,” is a major tourist destination and military hub. The new terminal is to handle increased passenger traffic and support the region’s tourism potential.
The project aligns with the government’s broader vision of developing modern infrastructure across the country and achieving sustainable growth in the civil aviation sector.
The inauguration and scheme launch underscore the continued focus on expanding airport facilities and regional air connectivity as part of India’s infrastructure development push.
About the Author
