The Maharashtra government is poised to take a major financial step towards the long-awaited Purandar airport project. Sources within the state government have indicated that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is likely to soon earmark a substantial outlay of approximately Rs 6,000 crore specifically for the acquisition of land required for the proposed airport near Pune.
Compensation Package and Farmer Demands
According to officials, the Pune district administration has forwarded the proposal, which is now in its final stages of clearance. The file is expected to be cleared imminently, unlocking the funds for disbursement. The compensation framework for affected farmers, as per a notification dated March 17, 2025, under the Land Acquisition Act, includes an offer of Rs 1 crore per acre. It also promises double compensation for on-site assets like houses and wells, payment for fruit-bearing trees, and a provision of 10% developed land in exchange for the acquired plots.
However, this offer has met with resistance from farmers across the seven affected villages. In their dialogues with the district administration, they have outrightly rejected the current terms. The farmers are demanding a significantly higher compensation, ranging between Rs 3 crore to Rs 3.4 crore per acre. Furthermore, they seek enhanced rehabilitation benefits, aligning with packages from projects like the Pune ring road and Navi Mumbai airport. Their key demand is an increase in the developed plot allocation from the proposed 10% to 22.5%.
Current Status and Pending Approvals
The land acquisition process spans approximately 1,285 hectares (around 3,000 acres) across seven villages. Officials report that consent has been obtained for nearly 1,245 hectares, meaning around 95% of landowners have agreed so far. The approvals for the remaining 40 hectares are still pending, and this land will now need to be acquired through the formal process. While land measurement is complete and the proposal has received in-principle approval from the industries department, the acquisition timeline has been delayed by nearly a month due to ongoing consultations with the farming community.
High-Stakes Meeting with Chief Minister
In a bid to break the deadlock, the Pune district administration is arranging a crucial meeting in Mumbai between representatives of the affected farmers and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting is scheduled to take place soon. Five farmers from each of the seven villages will be invited to present their comprehensive list of demands directly to the CM.
Officials believe this interaction will be pivotal in finalizing the compensation rates and rehabilitation package, thereby expediting the land acquisition for the airport. At previous meetings held at the collector's office, farmers placed a wide array of demands beyond just higher land rates. These included:
- Income tax exemption on the compensation received.
- Stamp duty concessions for rehabilitation.
- Certificates for project-affected persons and landless individuals.
- Permanent job opportunities for local youth at the airport.
- Concessional business loans and educational fee concessions.
- Higher FSI, development of plots, and infrastructure layout for surrounding villages.
State officials have emphasized that the proposed Purandar airport is projected to be a major infrastructure boost for the Pune region. The upcoming discussion with the chief minister is seen as a critical step in resolving the key issues and moving the project forward after the recent delays in the acquisition process.
