Srikakulam to Get Airport Under UDAN Scheme

Key Facts

• Srikakulam Airport to be developed in Mandasa mandal, Uddanam region, Andhra Pradesh, on 1,383 acres of land.
• The development occurs in two phases: 680 acres for Phase 1 and 536 acres for Phase 2; land acquisition is in progress.
• No villages will be relocated for the airport; fair compensation is provided to private landowners.
• UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) is India's regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, aiming to improve air links to smaller cities and towns.
• The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹28,840 crore for 2026-27 to 2035-36 and targets the development of 100 new airports during this period.
• An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 15 November 2025 between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation for the Srikakulam greenfield airport project.
• Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district is another key project supporting regional connectivity, developed by GMR Group, with over 98% construction progress as of April 2026.
• A validation flight with the Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu was conducted on 6 January 2026 to test the runway and safety systems at Bhogapuram Airport.
• The CPI(M) district unit in Srikakulam opposes the airport project due to concerns about the agricultural nature of the Uddanam region, which is an important coconut cultivation belt.

Background & Context

The UDAN scheme was launched by the Government of India to enhance regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable for citizens of smaller cities and towns. Andhra Pradesh's focus on aviation infrastructure development reflects its economic growth and the need to improve accessibility, tourism, and trade. The greenfield airport at Srikakulam is being constructed on previously undeveloped land to create a new aviation hub that does not require relocating villages. Uddanam, the proposed site region, is known for its significant agricultural production, especially coconut farming, leading to sociopolitical concerns from local communities and political groups. Bhogapuram International Airport's near completion complements regional air connectivity efforts in northern Andhra Pradesh.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The Srikakulam airport project under UDAN showcases a real-world example of how government schemes foster infrastructure and regional development, a recurring theme in competitive exams. Knowledge of the UDAN scheme’s purpose, timeline (2026-36), budget, and institutional roles (Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI) is commonly tested. Understanding the classification of airports as greenfield or brownfield, recognizing major projects like Srikakulam and Bhogapuram airports, and awareness of local socio-economic issues such as agricultural concerns by political groups provide a comprehensive understanding useful for geography, infrastructure, polity, and current affairs sections.

Points to Remember

• UDAN stands for Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik and is aimed at improving regional air connectivity by developing underserved airports.
• Srikakulam airport is a greenfield project planned on 1,383 acres in Andhra Pradesh’s Uddanam region, developed in two phases.
• An MoU was signed on 15 November 2025 between the Airports Authority of India and Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation for this project.
• The overall UDAN scheme has a financial outlay of ₹28,840 crore for 2026-27 to 2035-36 to develop 100 new airports.
• Bhogapuram International Airport, linked to Srikakulam’s air connectivity, is near completion (98% progress as of April 2026), developed by GMR Group.
• A validation flight at Bhogapuram was successfully undertaken on 6 January 2026 with the Union Civil Aviation Minister.
• Opposition by CPI(M) in Srikakulam is based on preserving agricultural land and concerns about the ecological impact in the Uddanam region.