**Executive Summary**
On July 16, 2026, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural Alliance Air flight from the newly operational NAMO Airport in Daman to Delhi, establishing the region's first direct air link. Developed under the UDAN Scheme at a cost of ₹124 crore, the airport aims to reduce travel time to the national capital from ten hours to 2.5 hours. This initiative is designed to bolster regional tourism, support over 7,000 local industries, and enhance the "blue economy" through improved logistics for marine and perishable goods.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Airport Infrastructure and Development**
* **Facility Type:** NAMO Airport is a dual-purpose facility operating out of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS) in Daman.
* **Project Cost:** The terminal was developed by the UT Administration for ₹124 crore, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursing ₹88 crore.
* **Capacity:** The 3,700-square-meter terminal can handle 14 ATR flights per day and has an annual capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers.
* **Timeline:** The foundation stone was laid on April 25, 2023, and the airport was officially inaugurated on June 5, 2026.
**Connectivity and Operations**
* **Direct Link:** The Daman–Delhi–Daman route is the first-ever direct flight for the Union Territory, significantly reducing transit time compared to traveling via Surat or Mumbai.
* **Carrier:** Operations are managed by the government-owned regional carrier, Alliance Air.
* **Future Expansion:** Plans are underway to extend the runway to accommodate larger aircraft like the Airbus A320 and to add routes to Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna.
**National Aviation Context**
* **UDAN Scheme Extension:** The government has extended the UDAN scheme for an additional 10 years with a ₹29,000 crore outlay.
* **Infrastructure Targets:** The broader national goal includes developing 100 new airports and 200 new helipads over the next decade to strengthen regional aviation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Regional Industries (Pharma, Manufacturing, and Food Processing)**
**Impact**
Improved air connectivity will provide faster access to markets and attract new investments. It is expected to benefit over 7,000 industries in the UT and 15,000 industries in neighboring areas like Vapi and Valsad.
**Action Required**
Businesses should integrate air logistics into their supply chains to leverage faster transit times to the national capital and other major cities.
**Fishing and Marine Community**
**Impact**
The "blue economy" will benefit as fisheries and marine products can now reach any part of the country within a few hours, preserving freshness and opening new markets.
**Action Required**
Marine farmers and distributors should explore air freight options to expand their distribution network beyond regional borders.
**Tourism Sector**
**Impact**
Daman currently sees 20 lakh tourists annually; direct air access is expected to rapidly increase this footfall by placing the region prominently on the aviation map.
**Action Required**
Tourism stakeholders should prepare for increased visitor volume and potential demand for higher-capacity travel services.
**Local Youth and Workforce**
**Impact**
The industrial expansion and increased tourism resulting from the airport are projected to create significant new employment opportunities.
**Action Required**
The local workforce should prepare for emerging roles in the aviation, hospitality, and industrial sectors as the regional economy expands.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN Scheme: India's regional airport development and connectivity program under which NAMO Airport was operationalized to link Daman with the national capital.
NAMO Airport, Daman: A newly operational dual-purpose airport facility and civil terminal developed at a cost of ₹124 crore to provide direct air connectivity to the region.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary central ministry responsible for funding the airport terminal project and overseeing the expansion of regional aviation networks.
Alliance Air: The government-owned regional airline that launched the inaugural direct flight service between Daman and Delhi.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu: The Union Territory central to the policy's impact, benefiting from enhanced connectivity for its industrial sectors and tourism.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flags off
inaugural flight from NAMO Airport, Daman
Alliance Air connects Daman directly to Delhi
प्रव तथ: 17 JUL 2026 11:09AM by PIB Delhi
In a landmark moment for the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Union
Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Administrator of Dadra and
Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Shri Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural flight on the Daman–
Delhi–Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman on July 16, 2026. Government
owned regional carrier Alliance Air launched the flight, marking Daman's first-ever direct air link.
Daman Airport envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a dual-purpose facility operating out
of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman. The foundation stone for the civil terminal was
laid by the Prime Minister on 25 April 2023 and the airport was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 5
June 2026.
Developed by the UT Administration at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, with the Ministry of Civil
Aviation reimbursing ₹88 crore towards the project, the terminal spans 3,700 square metres and can
currently handle 14 ATR flights a day, with a capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers annually.
The event for commencement of flight operations was attended by senior officials of the UT
Administration, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Alliance Air and the Indian Coast Guard along with
local residents of Daman.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu said, "On this historic occasion, I extend my
heartiest greetings to the people of Daman. With its first flight itself, Daman is getting directly connected
to the national capital. Now instead of going through Surat or Mumbai and spending 8 to 10 hours, Delhi
will be just 2.5 hours away from Daman. This has been possible with Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi’s transformative UDAN Scheme.”
The Minister added that over the last 12 years, under the Prime Minister's leadership, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli, and Daman and Diu have benefited from more than 450 projects worth over ₹13,000 crore, which
is why the people of Daman named their new airport ‘NAMO Airport’ as a mark of respect for the Prime
Minister's vision for addressing a long-standing demand of Daman.
The region is home to over 7,000 industries in Daman, Diu and Dadra, and Nagar Haveli, with a further
15,000-plus industries operating in neighboring Vapi and Valsad. Improved air connectivity would boost
business, attract investment and create new employment opportunities for the region's youth.
Highlighting the region's tourism potential, the Minister said nearly 20 lakh tourists visit Daman every
year and the footfall will grow rapidly as tourists will find Daman on the aviation map. And our idea is to
enable landing of bigger aircraft including Airbus A320-type planes in Daman by extension of the runway
and increasing the connectivity to cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Patna.Citing the example of Diu Airport, the Minister said, annual passenger traffic there has grown from just
19,000 in 2013 to over one lakh today. He said the Ministry is working towards developing a new terminal
and an additional larger runway at Diu Airport to meet rising demand.
Further talking about significance of Daman airport, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu said, “PM sir has connected
Daman’s blue economy to immense possibilities of the blue sky. Daman's fishery, marine products and
food processing goods will now be able to reach any corner of the country within a few hours." He said
this would benefit the fishing community, open new markets for marine farmers and also give fresh
momentum to the pharma industry here.”
The Minister also highlighted further extension of the transformative UDAN scheme for a further period
of 10 years. Under the Modified UDAN Scheme, an unprecedented outlay of ₹29,000 crore has been
provided over the next 10 years to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across the country,
further strengthening India's regional aviation network.
Shri Ram Mohan Naidu concluded his address by conveying special thanks to the Indian Coast Guard for
its significant contribution in realizing the NAMO Airport project, and extended his heartiest
congratulations to the people of Daman on the historic occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman
and Diu, said, "NAMO Airport will prove to be a game-changer for the entire industrial workforce belt
stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, opening up new opportunities for the youth
of this region. I am confident that within the next 15 years, we will see NAMO Airport, Daman, expand
many times over, emerging as a game-changer for the region's economy."
The commencement of flight operations from NAMO Airport, Daman, marks another significant
milestone in the Government's vision of democratizing air travel and integrating smaller cities into the
growing aviation network.
****
Divyanshu Kumar
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2285630) आगंतुक पटल : 1316
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