Daman & Diu gets air link, slew of schemes

Daman: Prime Minister Narendra Nodi on Saturday launched several development programmes worth Rs 1,000 crore in Daman and Diu, and said these will boost tourism and help the common man in the union territory.

The PM also inaugurated Air Odisha's flight connecting Ahmedabad with Diu under the Centre's regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

Modi also launched helicopter services between Daman and Diu - to be operated by Pawan Hans Ltd - at an event here.

"The air connectivity will boost tourism as tourists who want to visit the Somnath temple, Gir forest (in Gujarat) can now go (there) from Diu," Modi said.

Somnath temple and Gir forest are located around 80 km from Diu. Ahmedabad to Diu road journey takes 12 hours and the air connectivity cuts the travel time to just an hour.

Modi distributed kits to beneficiaries of welfare schemes, including differently-abled persons, women and industrial labourers.

He announced a slew of development programmes for Diu and said VAT on diesel provided to fishermen have been cut to zero. "Daman and Diu have now joined the mainstream of development".

Praising cleanliness drive undertaken by the local administration, Modi said, "Daman has, in a way, become an attractive tourist destination with its cleanliness drive. If tourist inflow increases, jobs for locals will be created".

Modi praised the local administration for making Daman open defecation free (ODF) and initiatives like providing subsidised e-rickshaws to women and a housing scheme for industrial labourers under public private partnership (PPP). He said women driving e-rickshaws will feel empowered and men will be respectful towards them.

Modi launched housing and food schemes for industrial labourers of this industrialised town.

The prime minister said labourers getting affordable food and shelter will work hard and help increase profit of their factory owners. "If labourers get these facilities, they will work hard and will increase your profit in one year".

He praised a programme launched by the administration to provide nutritious food to lactating women.