By Gitika Sharma
The Purandar Airport project is finally set to take off in Maharashtra after months of negotiations as 760 farmers hand in their land consent letters. On August 26, 2025, the first day of the land acquisition drive, after what feels like forever, the Purandar Airport Project finally seems to be moving forward. Officials were reportedly a bit surprised at the turnout.
Officials from the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) said the approval came after months of talking to the farmers individually. They promised proper compensation, rehabilitation, and even some extra benefits, which seems to have worked this time. “We have received consent for 1,070 acres of the 3,000 acres of land to be acquired from private landowners for the project,” Pune collector Jitendra Dudi said, adding that the response on the first day was “positive”. The land-consent drive will continue for 21 days. Families whose homes are in the project area will get a 250 sqm plot in Aerocity, in addition to monetary compensation.
The airport, planned in Purandar Taluka of Pune district, had already been delayed for years. Concerns were raised by the farmers about them losing their only source of livelihood, i.e., their land, but the negotiations from the officials’ end seem to have been working in favour of the airport development project.
Once completed, Purandar Airport could relieve the pressure on Pune’s Lohegaon Airport, which already has its own busy passenger traffic, and also bring in newer opportunities for more businesses to flourish in the area. Residents are confident that it would be a great opportunity to start with new businesses and small shops near the area. People are also hopeful about job opportunities during construction and later for the services at the airport itself.
Analysts say this could bring in more investment to the region, but they warn that the project will only succeed if land issues continue smoothly. For now, the project is progressing gradually but steadily. After years of uncertainty, the Puarandar Airport could finally become a reality, bringing in new opportunities for the locals and also boosting the state’s connectivity along with the economy.