Pune: Land Acquisition for Purandar Airport to Follow Samruddhi Model, Assures MLA Shivtare

Pune, 2nd December 2024: The proposed international airport in Purandar taluka, stalled for five years, may finally see progress as newly elected MLA Vijay Shivtare has assured expedited land acquisition through voluntary purchase. Shivtare emphasized that adopting the Samruddhi Highway model for acquisition would ensure fair compensation for project-affected farmers while avoiding losses.

Shivtare, who has consistently advocated for the airport project, was re-elected from Purandar taluka and has vowed to resolve the issue by engaging with farmers and addressing their concerns.

“After the Maha Vikas Aghadi government shifted the airport site, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the original location. Although seven villages will be fully affected, fair compensation through voluntary purchase will eliminate opposition from farmers. Additionally, there are 1,400 acres of uncultivated land nearby where an IT park could be established to create employment opportunities for the local youth,” Shivtare said.

The Purandar airport project was initially announced in 2018 by then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The airport was planned to be built on 2,832 hectares of land across seven villages in Purandar. The site was approved by the Central and State Governments, the Airports Authority of India, and the Ministry of Defense. However, land acquisition faced opposition from local citizens and the then MLA, Sanjay Jagtap.

The subsequent Maha Vikas Aghadi government identified an alternative site 10–15 kilometers away, but the Ministry of Defence denied approval for the new location. This led to further delays. When the Mahayuti government came to power, it was decided to revert to the original site.

The state government has appointed the Maharashtra Airport Development Authority (MADC) to oversee the project. Efforts were later initiated to transfer the project to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for land acquisition under the Land Transfer Act.

With an estimated cost of ₹5,000 crore, the Adani Group has expressed interest in financing the project. Shivtare revealed that a proposal to acquire land through voluntary purchase had been submitted to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a year ago. The strategy aims to secure farmer cooperation by ensuring fair market rates, minimizing resistance, and fast-tracking the acquisition process.

In addition to the airport, a multimodal logistics hub for goods transport and storage has also been proposed at the site. Shivtare assured that his focus will remain on resolving land acquisition issues and facilitating communication between the government and farmers to bring the project to fruition.

Shivtare reiterated, “Fair compensation and clear communication are key to addressing farmer concerns. This approach will help ensure that the airport project benefits both the region and its residents.”