Pune: Purandar Airport Expected To Accelerate In 2025 After State-Level Review; CM Fadnavis Pushes For Speedy Execution Of Stalled Airport

Pune, 30th December 2024: The long-delayed Purandar airport project is expected to pick up pace following a detailed review meeting chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) board focused on resolving key issues surrounding the ambitious project, including land acquisition and funding.

Within 20 days of resuming office, CM Fadnavis conducted a comprehensive assessment of the project’s progress and directed officials to address pending challenges. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to expedite infrastructure development across the state, including roads, waterways, and air connectivity, with significant support from both the State and Central Governments.

The proposed international airport in Purandar taluka requires 2,832 hectares of land spread across seven villages: Pargaon, Munjawadi, Khanvadi, Udachiwadi, Vanpuri, Ekhatpur, and Kumbharvalan. The estimated cost of land acquisition alone is ₹5,000 crore. However, clarity is yet to emerge on whether the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) or the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will be responsible for acquiring the land and compensating the affected villagers.

The Purandar airport project has already received approvals from the Central Government, the State Government, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), and the Ministry of Defense. Despite these clearances, the project has faced delays due to unresolved issues, including a recurring demand from the Army to shut down Pune’s existing Lohgaon Airport for civilian operations once the new airport becomes operational.

This condition, initially imposed during the project’s approval phase, was later withdrawn but has now been reinstated by the Army. The State Government has strongly opposed the closure of Lohgaon Airport for civil use, urging the Ministry of Defense to drop the condition to avoid further delays.

The airport project was last reviewed before the implementation of the model code of conduct for the Assembly Elections, but procedural hurdles prevented work from commencing. With the renewed focus under CM Fadnavis, stakeholders are hopeful that 2025 will see significant progress in making Purandar Airport a reality.