Pune: No Budget Allocation for Purandar Airport
Pune, 11th March 2025: The Maharashtra government has not allocated any funds for the long-awaited Purandar airport project in its state budget, raising concerns among stakeholders. Meanwhile, the budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, announced plans for a new airport near Vadhavan port, which would become Mumbai’s third airport.
The budget speech highlighted developments in several other aviation projects, including the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is set to begin operations in April, as well as upgrades to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, and improvements at Shirdi and Belora airports.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), which is overseeing the Purandar project, had earlier stated that they did not anticipate direct financial support from the state budget and were exploring other funding options. Officials said the notification for land acquisition is expected soon, and discussions on securing alternative financing methods are underway.
Local farmers, many of whom have converted barren land into productive farmland, remain opposed to the project.
