Pune: Efforts To Accelerate Land Acquisition For Purandar Airport Begins
Pune: Efforts To Accelerate Land Acquisition For Purandar Airport Begins
Pune: Efforts are underway to acquire land for the proposed Purandar International Airport through a voluntary purchase model inspired by the Samruddhi Expressway model. This approach aims to ensure fair compensation for affected farmers, minimize their losses, and accelerate the land acquisition process, according to newly elected Purandar Haveli assembly constituency MLA Vijay Shivtare.
The Purandar airport project has been stalled for over five years. Shivtare, who has been an ardent advocate of the project, has pledged to prioritize its progress following his re-election. Speaking to a news agency, he emphasized his commitment to resolving land acquisition challenges swiftly through constructive dialogue with farmers.
After a change in government, the Mahavikas Aghadi had proposed relocating the airport site. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved the original site. The project will impact seven villages in Purandar Taluka, and Shivtare highlighted that local opposition stems from concerns over inadequate compensation. The voluntary purchase model could address these issues and ensure satisfactory remuneration.
Additionally, Shivtare proposed developing a nearby 1,400-acre barren land into an IT park to provide employment opportunities for affected families.
The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) was initially appointed for the project, which was later transferred to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for land acquisition under applicable laws. The airport, estimated to cost ₹5,000 crore, has drawn interest from the Adani Group to bear the expenses. Shivtare mentioned that a year ago, he recommended adopting the voluntary purchase model to caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to expedite the project.
Reasons for Delays:
The Purandar Airport project, initially announced in 2018 by then-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was planned across 2,832 hectares in seven villages. Despite approvals from central and state governments, the Airport Authority of India, and the Ministry of Defense, land acquisition decisions were delayed due to local opposition and political disagreements.
A proposed alternative site 10-15 kilometers east was rejected by the Ministry of Defense during the Mahavikas Aghadi tenure. Upon the Mahayuti alliance taking power, the decision was made to proceed with the original site, with additional plans for a multi-modal logistics hub to enhance the region’s economic prospects.
Authorities are now focusing on dialogues with stakeholders to resolve concerns and advance the project swiftly.
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