Pune’s New International Airport Project Gains Momentum with Major Land Acquisition
The Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje (Purandar) International Airport project near Pune has taken a big step forward with consent letters received from around 1,400 landowners. Together, these cover nearly 1,400 acres, which accounts for about 47 percent of the 3,000 acres now required for the project.
The state government recently reduced the total land acquisition target to 3,000 acres, easing the process. To ensure fair compensation, affected landowners will be given four times the monetary value of their land. In addition, those who provide self-consent will also get a 10 percent land parcel as compensation. These plots will be allotted on a first-come-first-serve basis from the 700 acres earmarked in the planned Aerocity around the airport.
The Maharashtra government aims to complete land acquisition by the end of 2025. The tender process is expected to follow, with construction activities beginning by mid-2026.
Once ready, the Purandar airport will not only serve Pune but also act as a key aviation hub for western and central Maharashtra. The project includes two parallel runways, each 4,000 metres long and 60 metres wide, making it capable of handling heavy air traffic and larger aircraft.
This development is seen as a much-needed expansion, given the growing demand for air connectivity in Pune and the surrounding regions.
