Purandar airport project: District collector asks MIDC to deposit funds

PUNE: The Pune district collector has written to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), asking it to deposit funds to initiate the joint land measurement process for the proposed Purandar Airport. The move follows a recent meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and chief secretary Sujata Saunik wherein officials were instructed to expedite the long-delayed airport project.

Earlier while addressing a public gathering in Pune, Fadnavis had emphasised that with Purandar now represented by Mahayuti MLA Vijay Shivtare, the project would progress faster. He had also assured landowners that the compensation package being planned by the Maharashtra government would encourage voluntary land handovers while ensuring no injustice to anyone.

Acting on these directives, the district administration and MIDC are taking steps toward land acquisition, aiming to begin the process in the first week of April. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that once the MIDC deposits the required funds, land measurement in seven villages of Purandar tehsil will commence with plans to complete it in 10 days.

MIDC officials had earlier visited the project-affected areas in January this year and had subsequently proposed acquiring 2,753 hectares of land for the airport. Of the 2,753 hectares, 79 hectares belong to the government while the remaining 2,673 hectares are privately-owned. Given the resistance from locals, officials are considering using drones for land surveys to ensure transparency. Ever since the Mahayuti government has taken charge under Fadnavis, the latter has repeatedly emphasised the importance of the Purandar Airport project, stating that it remains a priority to establish Pune as a key international destination.

As per the notification issued by the industries, energy, labour and mining department of the Government of Maharashtra dated March 10, a total 2,753.053 hectares of land from a total 3,352 land survey numbers in seven villages of Purandar tehsil has been declared as ‘industrial area’ with immediate effect. An additional 70 hectares of land will be acquired from the state forest department, taking the total to 2,823 hectares of land to be acquired for the Purandar Airport Project.