Pune District Administration Completes Hearings for Proposed Purandar Airport

Pune: The Pune district administration has completed hearings on more than 3,000 objections and suggestions filed by farmers from seven villages in Purandar taluka over the proposed ₹3,500 crore international airport.

It will begin a joint land measurement this month before submitting a comprehensive report to the state government, district land acquisition officials told the media on Friday. Officials said the reactions from villagers were mixed — while some opposed the project outright, others demanded higher compensation, jobs, and rehabilitation packages. "Response has improved since the process began, but many farmers still have reservations. We are trying to take them into confidence as well," an official said.

Deputy collector (land acquisition) Kalyan Pandhare promised transparency in the process. "The state aims to acquire 90% of the land and return 10% as developed plots within the airport complex. No injustice will be done," he said, adding they plan to complete the land survey this month.

After the second round of hearings for farmers who missed earlier sessions, the final report — detailing objections, hearing outcomes, and joint survey results — will be submitted to the government in August, following which the compensation will be decided post discussions, he said.

During hearings, some farmers demanded up to ₹10 crore per acre and the return of 15% land as developed plots — much higher than the standard compensation rates. Many also sought livelihood assurances and infrastructure development in resettlement areas. Farmer Shantaram Memane from Pargaon reiterated opposition. "We do not want construction here. The government had earlier identified another location. They can build the airport there," he said.

Farmers had earlier opposed drone surveys and land measurement. In one incident, a drone was destroyed. "We may seek police protection to carry out the survey," a district official said.

A March 10 notification from the industries department declared 2,753 hectares in the seven villages as ‘industrial area', with an additional 70 hectares to be acquired from the forest department. The acquisition will likely impact about 7,000 landowners, officials said. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation plans to raise ₹3,500 crore from private investors to fund the airport project.

The villages affected are Pargaon Memane, Ekhatpur, Kumbharvalan, Vanpuri, Khanwadi, Munjawadi, and Udachiwadi.