“Once operational, the Purandar airport will transform the surrounding region into a major development zone,” Fadnavis stated. “CIDCO must act proactively to ensure land availability in the area at this stage itself to support future growth.” The ambitious project requires approximately 3,000 acres of land spanning seven villages in the Purandar taluka. The chief minister noted that the airport is a critical component of Pune’s long-term infrastructure, essential for supporting the rapid industrialisation and urban expansion of the city and its satellite areas. While the Pune district administration has already secured consent from 95% of the affected landowners, the final acquisition process is currently awaiting the release of funds from MIDC. According to MIDC officials, the corporation is in the process of onboarding credit institutions to finance the acquisition, which is estimated to cost approximately Rs4,500 crore. “The special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will also initiate the request for qualification and request for proposal processes to select a developer under the design, build, and operate model,” an MIDC official said. “This strategy is intended to minimize the interval between acquiring the land and breaking ground on construction.” In addition to the core airport site, the Pune district administration confirmed that an additional 250 hectares of peripheral land would be acquired, as local landowners have expressed a strong willingness to participate in the development. Land acquisition is currently concentrated across seven villages: Vanpuri, Kumbhar Valan, Udachi Wadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Khanwadi, and Pargaon. To facilitate the process, the state has appointed dedicated officers, including officials of deputy collector and sub-divisional officer rank, to oversee each village. Broadening the scope of the state’s aviation strategy, the chief minister also noted that the capacity of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) must be enhanced. He proposed that all airports currently under construction across Maharashtra be handed over to MADC to centralise and streamline development efforts.
