Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the first flight connecting the Union Territory of Daman and Diu with Ahmedabad under the Udaan Scheme besides projects worth Rs 1,000 crore.
In his address on the occasion, he stressed on the need for connectivity to boost tourism.
"Daman has now been connected to Diu with air services and therefore people from south India and other parts of the world could conveniently visit the Union Territory..."
Though the coastal towns of Daman and Diu are part of the same union territory, they are located nearly 700 km from each other. While Daman is borders south Gujarat, Diu is on the Saurashtra coast in western Gujarat. Both are popular beach resorts.
Launching projects worth Rs 1,000 crore, the Prime Minister claimed this was the first time projects of such scale were being inaugurated in Daman.
He congratulated Daman & Diu Administrator Praful Patel on achieving the status of Open Defecation Free (ODF) area and said that the UT has always been aware of the importance of cleanliness.
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Modi also praised the efforts of the locals in saving Rs 7 crore in electricity bills by opting for LED bulbs.
Meanwhile, he urged local fisherman to form small groups and register themselves to avail the benefits of blue revolution. "The government is taking several steps for the welfare of fishermen. Our entire emphasis on the ablue revolution' is inspired by the commitment to bring a positive difference in the lives of fishermen," he said.
Modi said the government would provide them long boats with which they can venture into high seas. The Prime Minister among other projects laid foundation stone for modernization of roads, seafront development and flagged off ambulance services in the Union Territory.
He later flew to Chennai to launch AIADMK government's ambitious scheme of providing 50 per cent subsidy for working women to buy two-wheelers. The 'Amma scooter scheme,' a pet project of late Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, was launched as part of celebrations for her 70th birth anniversary.
--IANS
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