INTRODUCTION
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, a union territory (UT) of India, is in the western region of India. The UT shares borders with the Arabian Sea, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In January 2020, the government merged the two union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu into one.
Of the total installed capacity in FY21, 518.41 MW was managed by central utilities. Thermal power plants accounted for a significant share in the total installed capacity with 702.41 MW, whereas nuclear energy and renewable energy contributed 16 MW and 46.01 MW, respectively. As per the Union Budget 2021-22, the Ministry of Home Affairs allocated Rs. 1,396.63 crore (US$ 192.45 million) for various schemes related to transmission and distribution of power.
Total merchandise exports from the UT stood at US$ 3,263.76 million in FY21.
The UT has a well-developed social, physical and industrial infrastructure. It has a domestic airport that connects it to cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad. It also has a minor port infrastructure. The state has an established base for the textiles and plastic industries.
As per the Union Budget 2021-22, the Ministry of Home Affairs allocated Rs. 238.07 crore (US$ 32.80 million) for various schemes related to roads and bridges.
- Following completion of the 30-kms Korichhapar-Dharamjaigarh section by IRCON International in January 2021, the complete section of 74 kms between Kharsia and Dharamjaigarh is functional
- Commencement of this section has made way in evacuating coal from the North Chhattisgarh area
- Goods train can reach up to Durgapur, and the Baroud and Chhaal mines of Southeastern Coalfields
KEY SECTORS
- In December 2020, Hindalco Industries announced plans to set up 34,000 tonne aluminium extrusion plant worth Rs. 730 crore (US$ 99.28 million) at Silvassa.
- The proposed eight-lane Baroda-Mumbai expressway will pass through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, thereby opening the UT to investments.
- The ‘New Education Policy’ will help in the development of higher education infrastructure within the boundaries of this union territory.
- In 2018, the central government approved to set up the first medical college in Daman & Diu for Rs. 189 crore (US$ 25.6 million).
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
- In FY21, the airport handled 16,519 passengers
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are leaders in plasticisers and contributes to 28% of India’s plastic production in the form of aerospace, households, medical, green houses, defence and non-conventional energy.
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu leads in integrated textile plants and polyester hub and accounts for 80% of India’s texturising yarn production.
- The coastline in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu is 27 kms and the UT has 7 landing centres. The marine catch comprises oil sardines, shrimps, Indian mackerel, Bombay duck, croakers, cephalopods, other sardines and threadfin breams.