Land Acquisition For Purandar International Airport To Be Completed Within Six Months: Pune District Collector
Pune, 10th April 2025: The process of engaging with farmers affected by the land acquisition for the proposed Purandar International Airport has officially begun, with authorities aiming to complete the entire acquisition process within the next six months, according to Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi.
Speaking at the Pune Shramik Patrakar Sangh’s “Vartalap” program on Wednesday, Dudi assured that farmers from the seven impacted villages will receive fair compensation under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Act of 2013. He urged landowners not to fall prey to misinformation or sell their lands privately, promising transparency and justice in the process.
“The airport will be developed at the previously selected site in Purandar, and the groundwork for acquisition has commenced,” said Dudi. “A total of 2,800 hectares will be acquired. Farmers who voluntarily agree to give up their land will be compensated at five times the base rate.”
The compensation will be determined based on land type—irrigated or non-irrigated—along with existing natural resources, wells, trees, and plantations. “Building trust with farmers is crucial. In the absence of communication, many fall victim to misleading information. But now, many farmers are showing interest and inquiring about compensation, indicating growing acceptance,” he added.
Meetings have already been held in four villages to facilitate direct communication with the farmers, and similar sessions will be conducted in the remaining three villages within a week. Following this, a re-survey and measurements will be carried out to conclude the acquisition within the set six-month timeline.
Dudi also outlined broader plans for agricultural and regional development. A five-year agricultural development roadmap is being prepared under the initiative “Prosperity Through Farming.” Five key crops with high national demand—figs from Purandar, strawberries from Mahabaleshwar and Ambegaon, sunflowers from Indapur, and mangoes from Junnar—are being prioritized for a new export policy framework.
To further these goals, a state-wide “Agri Hackathon” will be held in June. Parallel initiatives include a “Tourism Hackathon,” a “Tool Hub Center” for industrial development, and infrastructure improvements in rural health and education, including the establishment of primary health centers and schools through the District Planning Committee.
Dudi also addressed the urban infrastructure needs of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, revealing that land acquisition for the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (PMRDA) planned ring road has gained momentum. “We are confident of completing more than 90 percent of the land acquisition for the ring road within the next three months,” he stated.
The ongoing efforts signal a comprehensive push for development across rural, urban, and industrial sectors, with Purandar’s airport project acting as a major catalyst.
