Daman: In a major boost to regional connectivity, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu Administrator Praful Patel on Friday flagged off the inaugural Daman–Delhi–Daman flight from the newly operational NAMO Airport in Daman. Operated by Alliance Air, the service marks the Union Territory’s first-ever direct air connection to the national capital.
The airport, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a dual-use facility operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the civil terminal in April 2023 and inaugurated the airport on June 5, 2026.
Built on a 25-acre site at a cost of ₹124 crore, the airport features a 3,700-square-metre terminal capable of handling 14 ATR flights daily and an annual passenger capacity of 3.67 lakh. The Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursed ₹88 crore for the project.
Speaking at the launch, Ram Mohan Naidu said the new service would reduce travel time between Daman and Delhi from 8–10 hours by road and connecting flights to just 2.5 hours, crediting the achievement to the Centre’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
The Minister said the Union Territory has received more than 450 development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore during the past 12 years, adding that the airport was named NAMO Airport in recognition of Prime Minister Modi’s vision and long-standing commitment to improving connectivity in the region.
Highlighting the economic impact, Naidu noted that the region is home to over 7,000 industries, while another 15,000 industries operate in nearby Vapi and Valsad. He said improved air connectivity would boost trade, attract investment, and generate employment opportunities.
The Minister also emphasized Daman’s growing tourism sector, which attracts nearly 20 lakh visitors annually, and said the government plans to expand the runway in the future to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320, enabling direct flights to cities including Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna.
Referring to the success of Diu Airport, Naidu said passenger traffic there has increased from 19,000 in 2013 to over one lakh annually, with plans underway to build a new terminal and extend the runway to meet rising demand.
He added that the new airport would strengthen the region’s blue economy, allowing fisheries, marine products, food processing goods, and pharmaceutical products to reach markets across the country more quickly.
The Minister also announced that the UDAN scheme has been extended for another 10 years, with an allocation of ₹29,000 crore to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across India under the modified programme.
Administrator Praful Patel described NAMO Airport as a “game-changer” for the industrial belt stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, saying it would create new opportunities for businesses and young people while driving long-term economic growth in the region.
The launch of flight operations from NAMO Airport marks another milestone in the Government’s efforts to expand regional air connectivity and integrate smaller cities into India’s rapidly growing aviation network.
