Government Launches Rs 22,000-Crore Projects Across Gujarat, Daman and Lakshadweep

On 5 June 2026, a large set of development and infrastructure projects worth around Rs 22,000 crore was inaugurated or had its foundation stone laid across Gujarat, the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep. The programmes were spread across Surat in Gujarat and the coastal areas of the union territories, and were aimed at improving connectivity, healthcare, and the overall quality of daily life for residents.

The biggest share of the spending went to Surat, where projects worth nearly Rs 18,800 crore were taken up. These included two packages of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway, which is meant to speed up road transport, improve the movement of goods, and strengthen economic links between Gujarat and Maharashtra. A 200-bed ESIC hospital was also opened in Surat to expand healthcare access for workers and their families, alongside a review of ongoing industrial work in the Hazira area.

In Daman, projects worth about Rs 2,970 crore were taken up. The key works included a new terminal building at the local airport to improve air connectivity and a new hospital. Foundation stones were also laid for a convention centre and a campus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), with the wider aim of boosting tourism, attracting investment, and creating jobs.

For Lakshadweep, foundation stones for four projects worth around Rs 885 crore were laid through a virtual link. These focus on building port facilities on the eastern and western sides of both Kalpeni Island and Kadmat Island. Better port and maritime infrastructure is expected to help coastal communities, support fishing and trade, and encourage tourism in the island chain.

For exam aspirants, this is a useful example of how public capital spending is directed at physical infrastructure such as expressways, airports, ports, and hospitals. It also shows how the Centre supports development in smaller Union Territories like Daman and Lakshadweep, which are important for coastal security, connectivity, and the blue economy.