Purandar Airport Project Takes Flight: Historic Land Survey Begins!

After years of anticipation and a series of bureaucratic hurdles, Pune's ambitious Purandar international airport project is finally cleared for takeoff! A significant breakthrough has been achieved, as local farmers, whose land is crucial for the development, have completed the signing of land acquisition consent forms.

This pivotal moment paves the way for the long-awaited land survey to commence this Friday, marking a monumental step forward for the region's connectivity and economic future.

The Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao confirmed this crucial development, stating that the consent forms from approximately 1,470 families across seven villages – Pargaon, Udachiwadi, Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur, Mujwadi, and Khanwadi – have been successfully secured.

This collective agreement, after extensive dialogue and negotiation, has unlocked the path for the vital physical land survey process. This survey, essential for demarcating boundaries and planning the airport's layout, will now kick off, signalling a definitive end to the years of uncertainty that plagued the mega-project.

A key factor in securing the farmers' cooperation was the transparent and equitable compensation model.

As outlined by officials, affected landowners will receive a dual package: 50% of the compensation in cash, and the remaining 50% in the form of developed land within the proposed airport vicinity. This innovative approach aims to ensure that farmers not only receive fair monetary value for their land but also become stakeholders in the new economic ecosystem that the airport is expected to generate, offering them long-term benefits and a stake in the region's prosperity.

Collector Suhas Diwase had earlier highlighted the importance of this unique formula in gaining public trust and accelerating the acquisition process.

The journey to this point has been arduous. The Purandar airport project, initially conceived to alleviate pressure on the existing Pune Lohegaon Airport, has seen multiple false starts and changes in plans.

First proposed in the 'old' Purandar region (which is now designated for the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport), the project was later shifted to the current site. Further delays arose from disputes over the implementing agency, oscillating between the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

The state government's recent decision to entrust the project to MIDC, coupled with renewed efforts in dialogue with landowners, has finally injected the necessary momentum.

With the land survey imminent, the vision of a state-of-the-art international airport for Pune is rapidly turning into a reality.

This development promises to not only boost air travel and cargo capacity for the industrial and IT hub of Pune but also to create thousands of jobs, attract further investment, and transform the Purandar region into a thriving commercial zone. The successful acquisition of consent represents a triumph of collaborative effort between the government and the local community, setting a precedent for future large-scale infrastructure projects in the state.

Pune is truly ready to soar to new heights!