Pune: ₹6,000 Crore Approved for Purandar International Airport as Maharashtra Fast-Tracks Land Acquisition via New SPV
Pune/Mumbai, February 11, 2026: In a move set to redefine the aviation landscape of Western India, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has officially greenlighted a massive ₹6,000 crore loan for land acquisition for the Purandar International Airport (officially proposed as the Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Pune International Airport). This decisive financial backing ends years of speculation, effectively fast-tracking the development of Pune’s long-awaited greenfield airport.
A “Game Changer” for Pune Infrastructure
The state government has declared the project a “priority infrastructure asset,” designed to alleviate the extreme congestion at the current Pune Lohegaon Airport. Operating as a dual-user facility with the Indian Air Force, Lohegaon has long faced limitations in international slots and parking bays.
The new Purandar Airport is engineered for scale:
- Capacity: Designed to handle 75 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).
- Runways: Two parallel runways measuring 4000 x 60 meters, capable of hosting the world’s largest aircraft.
- Hub Status: Poised to become India’s second-largest airport and a global cargo hub for agricultural exports, specifically for the region’s famous pomegranates and grapes.
The SPV Powerhouse: CIDCO, MADC, and MIDC
To ensure seamless execution, the state has operationalized a high-powered Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The shareholding structure reflects a strategic multi-agency commitment:
- CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation): 51% (Lead Agency)
- MADC (Maharashtra Airport Development Company): 19%
- MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation): 15%
- PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority): 15%
Repayment of the ₹6,000 crore loan, backed by government guarantees, will be shared proportionately among these stakeholders.
Land Acquisition: 96% Consent Achieved
The acquisition covers approximately 1,216 hectares across seven key villages: Vanpuri, Kumbhar Valan, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Khanwadi, and Pargaon.
In a significant win for the administration, 96% of local landowners have already provided their consent. To ensure the financial well-being of the farmers, the Pune district administration is partnering with the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics to provide financial literacy and investment counseling for those receiving compensation. Chief Minister Fadnavis has set a strict deadline of June 1, 2026, to finalize all land transfers.
Economic Impact: Real Estate and Global Exports
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol highlighted that the airport would open direct routes to the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia, significantly boosting Pune’s IT sector and MSMEs.
Parallelly, the cabinet approved 1,000 acres in Indapur for a new MIDC industrial estate, creating a synergistic “Aviation-Industrial Corridor.” Real estate experts predict a 10-15% surge in property values in areas like Saswad, Jejuri, and South Pune, as the region prepares for the “Aerocity” development.
PuneNow Fact Box: Construction tenders for the mega-airport are expected to be floated in the second half of 2026, with the project slated for completion by 2029.
