Daman gets first direct air connectivity with Delhi as NAMO Airport begins operations
Daman, July 17 (TNT): Daman on Thursday marked a major milestone in its aviation history with the launch of its first-ever direct flight service connecting Daman–Delhi–Daman from the newly operational NAMO Airport.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu along with Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful Patel flagged off the inaugural flight operated by government-owned regional carrier Alliance Air.
The airport, envisioned under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a dual-purpose facility developed at the Indian Coast Guard Air Station, Daman.
The foundation stone for the civil terminal was laid by the Prime Minister in April 2023, and the airport was inaugurated on June 5, 2026.
Developed by the Union Territory administration at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, the terminal received ₹88 crore reimbursement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Spread across 3,700 square metres, the terminal can handle up to 14 ATR flights daily and has an annual passenger handling capacity of 3.67 lakh.
Addressing the gathering, Ram Mohan Naidu said the direct flight would reduce travel time between Daman and Delhi to around 2.5 hours, eliminating the need for passengers to travel via Surat or Mumbai.
He said the connectivity was made possible through the Centre’s UDAN scheme, aimed at improving regional air connectivity.
He added that Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have witnessed development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore in the last 12 years.
The Union Minister said improved air connectivity would benefit the region’s industrial sector, which includes more than 7,000 industries in Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, along with over 15,000 industries in neighbouring Vapi and Valsad.
Highlighting tourism potential, he said nearly 20 lakh tourists visit Daman annually and better air connectivity would further increase tourist footfall.
He added that plans are underway to extend the runway and enable operations of larger aircraft, including Airbus A320-type planes, while expanding connectivity to cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patna.
Referring to Diu Airport, he said passenger traffic has increased from around 19,000 in 2013 to over one lakh currently, and plans are being considered for a new terminal and larger runway to meet future demand.
He said the airport would also strengthen the region’s blue economy by enabling faster movement of fisheries, marine products, food processing goods and pharmaceutical products to markets across the country.
The Union Minister announced that the modified 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 the country.
Praful Patel said NAMO Airport would become a major economic catalyst for the industrial belt stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, creating new opportunities for businesses and youth.
The launch of flight operations from NAMO Airport marks another step in the government’s efforts to expand regional aviation connectivity and bring smaller cities into India’s growing air transport network.
TNT KS
