Pune, 29 August 2025: The long-pending Purandar International Airport project has received a major push after 951 farmers from seven villages came forward to give consent for land acquisition. Officials confirmed that 1,160 acres have already been earmarked for the ambitious project, which had faced delays due to strong farmer opposition in the past.
The process of collecting consent letters began on August 25. On the very first day, over 750 farmers signed up, contributing more than 1,000 acres. By the next day, another 160 farmers joined in, adding 191 acres. Authorities said this marks a turning point for the project.
Originally, the government planned to acquire 2,673 hectares, but after protests, the area was reduced to 1,285 hectares. With nearly 40% of this revised land now secured, officials believe the project is steadily moving towards reality.
To encourage participation, the government is offering landowners four times the compensation value along with developed plots, as per the MIDC rehabilitation policy. However, these enhanced benefits are only available to those who provide consent within the 21-day period, which ends on September 18. Priority will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Farmers can submit their consent letters at designated offices in Saswad and Pune, where counters are open from 10 AM to 5 PM. District officials urged remaining landowners to take advantage of the offer, expressing confidence that more farmers will join in the coming weeks.