Silvassa, September 11: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday praised the development achieved in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, describing it as an example of people-oriented governance and calling the region a “Mini India” because of its cultural diversity and social harmony.
Addressing a public programme at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Government College in Silvassa during his first visit to the Union Territory, Radhakrishnan said the region had witnessed significant progress in infrastructure, healthcare, education, tourism and connectivity over the past decade.
He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Administrator Praful Patel, along with the participation of local communities, for contributing to the transformation.
According to figures highlighted by the Vice President, more than 450 infrastructure projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore have been undertaken in the Union Territory during the last decade. These include nearly 800 km of roads developed at a cost exceeding Rs 4,000 crore.
Radhakrishnan pointed to improvements in healthcare, noting that the Union Territory, which had no medical college before 2019, now has one with 177 seats.
He also referred to the 450-bed Namo Hospital in Silvassa and the recently inaugurated 350-bed Namo Hospital in Daman.
He said public health indicators had also improved, with tuberculosis cases declining by 57 per cent and malnutrition falling by 58 per cent over the past three years.
The Union Territory has also achieved full registration under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, besides reaching 100 per cent targets for Health and Wellness Centres and institutional deliveries, he said.
The Vice President highlighted investments in education, including more than Rs 700 crore for the construction of 21 new schools, while work on 16 additional schools is underway.
Government schools are also being equipped with smart classrooms, he said.He added that the presence of institutions and campuses linked to professional education, including the National Institute of Fashion Technology and Gujarat National Law University, would expand educational and career opportunities for local youth.
Tourism has also recorded substantial growth, with visitor numbers rising from around six lakh in 2021 to nearly 50 lakh in 2025, according to the figures cited by Radhakrishnan.
He said initiatives such as the Daman Night Market, Ram Setu seafront, restoration of heritage sites, beach development, water sports and eco-tourism projects were helping showcase the region’s natural and cultural attractions.
The Vice President also underlined the Union Territory’s industrial strength, saying it has more than 7,500 manufacturing units and provides over 2.8 lakh employment opportunities, particularly through the MSME sector.
He said the inauguration of the Namo Airport in Daman had further strengthened air connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, supporting tourism and economic activity.
Radhakrishnan also appreciated efforts towards renewable energy, noting that the Union Territory had achieved its target of solarising all government buildings, with an installed capacity of around 12 MW.
Referring to the region’s social composition, the Vice President said people from different parts of India had made the Union Territory their home and were contributing to its development while living together peacefully.
He said the combination of social diversity, cultural heritage and communal harmony made the Union Territory a reflection of India’s diversity, hence the description “Mini India”.
The Vice President said the ongoing transformation in the Union Territory was aligned with the broader vision of building a developed India by 2047.
During the programme, Radhakrishnan distributed toolkits to beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma scheme and appointment letters to newly recruited teachers.
He was also felicitated by representatives of local bodies, industry and hotel associations, students and members of the Tamil Sangam.
The Vice President’s visit marked his first visit to the Union Territory, where he reviewed and highlighted various aspects of its ongoing development.
