Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the launch of Daman’s first direct flight to Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN scheme. The inaugural Alliance Air flight on the Daman-Delhi-Daman route departed from the newly operational NAMO Airport, marking a significant milestone for the Union Territory. Minister Naidu highlighted that this new air service would drastically reduce travel time between Daman and Delhi from 8-10 hours by road to just 2.5 hours by air.
The minister credited the success of this initiative to PM Modi’s UDAN scheme, emphasizing its role in enhancing regional air connectivity by linking smaller cities with major destinations. NAMO Airport, situated at the Indian Coast Guard Air Station in Daman, was inaugurated by PM Modi on June 5 and boasts a 3,700-square meter terminal capable of handling 14 ATR flights daily, with an annual passenger capacity of 3.67 lakh. Minister Naidu underscored the economic potential of the region, noting the presence of over 7,000 industries in Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, along with 15,000 industries in neighboring Vapi and Valsad.
The improved air connectivity is expected to facilitate business travel, attract investments, and create employment opportunities in the region. Minister Naidu also mentioned that the new air service is anticipated to significantly boost tourist arrivals in Daman, which currently sees around 20 lakh tourists annually. Plans are underway to expand the runway to accommodate larger aircraft like Airbus A320-type planes and enhance connectivity to cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna. Additionally, the government has extended the UDAN scheme for another decade, allocating Rs 29,000 crore to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads under the revised scheme.
