Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan has praised the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu as a model of inclusive growth during his first visit to the region. Speaking at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Government College in Silvassa on September 11, 2026, he highlighted the territory’s rapid transformation over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Administrator Praful Patel’s administration. The Vice-President described the Union Territory as a “mini India” reflecting social diversity and communal harmony.
Key developments in the Union Territory
The Union Territory has undertaken over 450 infrastructure projects worth more than 13,000 crore rupees in the last decade. Road construction alone has covered approximately 800 kilometres at a cost exceeding 4,000 crore rupees.
Healthcare: The region had no medical college before 2019 but now operates one with 177 seats. Two major hospitals—the 450-bed NAMO Hospital in Silvassa and the 350-bed NAMO Hospital in Daman—have been built. Tuberculosis cases have decreased by 57 per cent and malnutrition by 58 per cent over three years. All Health and Wellness Centres are saturated, institutional deliveries have reached 100 per cent coverage, and the territory is fully registered under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Education: Twenty-one new schools have been constructed at an investment of over 700 crore rupees, with 16 more under construction. Smart classrooms have been set up in government schools. Professional institutions including NIFT, Gujarat National Law University and others have opened campuses in the territory.
Tourism and connectivity: Tourist arrivals have risen from approximately 6 lakh in 2021 to nearly 50 lakh in 2025. New attractions include the Daman Night Market, Ram-setu Seafront and restored heritage sites. Namo Airport in Daman now connects the territory to Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Industry and environment: The territory hosts more than 7,500 manufacturing units and over 2.8 lakh jobs in the MSME sector. Government buildings have achieved 100 per cent solarisation with nearly 12 MW of installed capacity.
What this means for you
If you live in or plan to move to this Union Territory, you now have better access to quality healthcare, quality education and job opportunities compared to a decade ago. Improved air connectivity and tourism infrastructure make the region more accessible. The government’s focus on sustainable energy and skill development through professional institutions offers pathways for career advancement in growing sectors like tourism, manufacturing and services.