Purandar Airport Hits High Gear: Over 60% Land Now Secured

The proposed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport at Purandar has crossed a significant milestone in its development journey, with more than 60 percent of the required land acquisition process completed. Farmers have submitted consent affidavits for approximately 1,837 acres of land, out of the nearly 3,000 acres needed for the project.

The Pune district administration has already disbursed around ₹900 crore in compensation directly to affected landowners, while June 10 has been designated as the final date for submitting consent affidavits under the ongoing acquisition process.

Land acquisition activities commenced on May 7 across seven villages in Purandar taluka, where approximately 1,216 hectares (around 3,000 acres) have been identified for the airport project. According to initial surveys conducted by the authorities, a large majority of farmers expressed support for the initiative, with nearly 96 percent indicating their willingness to participate in the acquisition process.

A key factor contributing to the positive response has been the compensation package approved by the state government, which offers landowners ₹1.61 crore per acre. The compensation framework is intended to ensure a smoother acquisition process while addressing the interests of affected stakeholders.

To fund the acquisition programme, estimated to require nearly ₹6,000 crore, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has arranged financing through a loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). An initial tranche of ₹500 crore has already been released to facilitate compensation payments and accelerate project implementation.

Once completed, the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening aviation infrastructure in the Pune region, improving domestic and international connectivity, supporting economic growth, and enhancing the city’s position as a major commercial and transportation hub.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.