Pune: Purandar Airport Project Faces Roadblock as Thousands of Farmers Raise Objections

Pune, 11th June 2025: The land acquisition process for the proposed ₹3,500-crore Purandar International Airport has hit an early hurdle, with over 3,000 objections filed by farmers from seven villages that will be affected by the mega infrastructure project.

Officials from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), which is overseeing the land procurement for the greenfield airport, confirmed that farmers from Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Kumbharvalan, Pargaon, and Khanwadi have submitted a total of 3,022 objections. These villages are all located within Purandar taluka, the proposed site for the new airport.

While hearings with landowners have begun, authorities say the response from farmers has been mixed — with many opposing the project outright and others willing to part with land but only at high compensation rates.

Demands: ₹10 crore per acre and developed land return
Farmers open to negotiations have demanded ₹10 crore per acre, along with the return of 15% of their land as developed plots within the airport area. These demands reflect deep-rooted apprehensions about displacement and future livelihood.

“We’re not ready to give up our land under pressure,” said Jitendra Memane, a farmer from Pargaon. “They should shift the project elsewhere. There was an earlier location they had identified — build it there.”

At a public hearing in Udachiwadi, 142 objections were recorded, 116 of which were heard on Monday. “Unless all farmers feel secure and are completely on board, no acquisition should happen,” said local resident Santosh Hagwane.

MIDC takes over after MADC exit
The Purandar airport was initially assigned to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). However, repeated resistance from local landowners led to the project being handed over to MIDC. Now, the state intends to raise ₹3,500 crore through private investment to acquire 2,732 hectares of land, in addition to 70 hectares from the forest department.

Process to be transparent, says official
Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Kalyan Pandhare, assured transparency throughout the process. “We’re aiming to acquire 90% of the land, while returning 10% to farmers as developed plots. No injustice will be done,” he said, adding that over 2,000 families are expected to be compensated.

A senior official involved in the hearings noted, “It will take us at least 10 more days to review all the objections. The final report will be submitted to the state government along with detailed observations and feedback.”

Next steps: Second round of hearings on June 17
Due to the large volume of concerns, a second round of public consultations has been scheduled for June 17, specifically for those farmers who missed the first round.