Pune: The proposed Purandar International Airport has taken a significant step forward with the reservation of 2,832 hectares of land. A government notification has been issued, officially reserving land across survey numbers in seven villages of Purandar Taluka. This marks a crucial milestone in the airport development process, setting the stage for land acquisition and compensation discussions.
According to the notification issued by Dr. Shrikant Pulkundwar, Joint Secretary of the Industries Department, the selected villages have now been declared as an industrial zone under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Act. The villages covered in this land acquisition include:
Vanpuri
Pargaon Memane
Kumbharvalan
Ikhatpur
Udachi Wadi
Munjwadi
Khanwadi
As part of this declaration, certain areas within these villages will be acquired for roads, pathways, and water streams. Official boundaries of the villages have been marked with red lines, indicating the areas that will fall under MIDC’s jurisdiction.
Land Acquisition Process and Public Objections
With the land now reserved, the next phase involves marking MIDC seals on the survey numbers of the affected lands. A joint meeting of revenue and MIDC officials will be conducted soon to discuss the next steps. Before proceeding with the acquisition, the government will issue a public notice in newspapers, inviting objections and suggestions from landowners. After a one-month review period, the land measurement and acquisition process will begin.
Political Debate Over Budget Allocation
During the state budget session, MLA Vijay Shivtare had strongly demanded budgetary allocation for the Purandar Airport project. He highlighted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had previously called the project a major economic growth driver for Pune and Western Maharashtra. However, the absence of funds in the state budget had led to widespread public disappointment.
Despite this, the rapid land acquisition developments indicate that the government is committed to the project. The issuance of the land acquisition notification on the same day as the budget presentation suggests that the government has already set the process in motion.
Land Sale Restrictions and Future Developments
Once MIDC marks the land records, no sale, transfer, or transaction of the identified land will be permitted without MIDC’s approval, as per senior officials. This move ensures that land is preserved exclusively for the airport project.
