Maharashtra UDAN flight routes connecting Solapur with Mumbai and Amravati with Pune have been selected under the Centre’s revised regional connectivity scheme, according to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol. The proposed services are expected to operate in both directions, linking two important regional cities with major economic, industrial and educational centres.
The routes selected for Maharashtra are Solapur-Mumbai-Solapur and Amravati-Pune-Amravati. The announcement was made as part of a challenge-based selection process under the revised UDAN scheme, which is intended to expand regional air connectivity.
Under the revised framework, each state has the opportunity to propose four air routes and two airports. Route proposals can be made based on passenger demand, the importance of regional connectivity and the potential for expanding air travel, according to the information shared by the minister.
The proposed Solapur-Mumbai service would connect Solapur with Maharashtra’s financial and commercial capital. Solapur is known for its textile industry, trade, religious tourism and agriculture-linked businesses. A direct air link could make travel to Mumbai more convenient for traders, entrepreneurs, professionals and residents travelling for administrative or other work. The route could also improve access to Solapur’s industrial and tourism opportunities, although the announcement does not specify an airline, fare structure or start date.
The Amravati-Pune route would connect a major Vidarbha city with one of western India’s leading education, information technology, industrial and employment hubs. Amravati is an important educational, commercial and agriculture-based centre in the region. A direct flight could benefit students, parents, entrepreneurs, professionals and people travelling to Pune for employment or business purposes.
The proposed connection also has a wider regional mobility dimension. At present, travel between Vidarbha and western Maharashtra can involve long surface journeys or indirect air connections. A direct service between Amravati and Pune would create a faster link between the two regions, subject to flight availability, schedule reliability and passenger demand after operations begin.
The selection of the two routes does not yet amount to an operational launch. The source report does not provide details on the airline that may operate the services, the number of weekly flights, aircraft type, ticket prices, airport infrastructure or the expected commencement date. Those details will determine how much practical value the proposed connections deliver to passengers.
The revised UDAN process places passenger need, regional importance and expansion potential at the centre of route selection. For Solapur and Amravati, the next steps will involve completing the selection and implementation process before services can begin. The two proposed routes are Solapur-Mumbai-Solapur and Amravati-Pune-Amravati.
