Project Overview

The Purandar International Airport is a proposed greenfield airport in Purandar Taluka, Pune. It is officially named Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje International Airport. The facility comprises two parallel 4,000-meter runways capable of handling the largest commercial aircraft, with an ultimate capacity of 75 million passengers per year.

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The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is handling land acquisition across seven affected villages, while the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) oversees project development. The SPV is structured with CIDCO holding 51 percent, MADC 19 percent, PMRDA 15 percent, and MIDC 15 percent. 

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The total site area is approximately 2,823 hectares. Currently, in the land acquisition process, a High Power Committee meeting on April 24, 2026, approved compensation rates of approximately INR 1.61 crore per acre. 

As of May 2026, the acquisition of approximately 38% of the land required for the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje International Airport in Purandar is officially in process.

It represents approximately 466 hectares of the 1,216.75 hectares authorized for acquisition under the February 9, 2026, Government Resolution. Maharashtra's state finance department has issued a Rs 6,000-crore government guarantee, enabling MIDC to raise loans for land compensation payments.

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Pune is one of India's fastest-growing cities, with a significant IT, manufacturing, and education economy that generates substantial international and domestic travel demand. The Union Budget 2024-25 earmarked INR 50,000 crore in capital expenditure for six new airports, including Purandar, signaling the strongest financial commitment from the central government the project has ever received.

Purandar International Airport Land Acquisition

Purandar International Airport Project Location

The Purandar International Airport, also known as New Pune International Airport, is located in Purandar Taluka, Pune District, Maharashtra, approximately 45 km southeast of Pune city.

It is situated between Saswad and Jejuri on comparatively flat terrain, a choice made over the originally planned mountainous Chakan location in September 2016.

Purandar International Airport Project Location Map

Technical Specification

Project Background

The need for a new Pune airport has been recognized since the 1990s. Lohegaon Airport (IATA: PNQ) has been a shared civil-military facility for the Indian Air Force since its establishment and has consistently lacked the land and regulatory freedom to expand.

By the late 1990s, Pune's rapid growth as an IT hub, automotive center, and educational destination had created passenger demand that exceeded Lohegaon's physical capacity.

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The first proposal was for a site near Chakan-Rajgurunagar in Pune District, north of the city. This site was studied extensively but ultimately abandoned due to resistance to land acquisition.

The site was then shifted southward to Purandar Taluka, which was selected for its flatness, availability of government and revenue land, proximity to Pune Fort, access to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway corridor, and distance from the congested northern Pune industrial belt.

The project reached its most significant approvals in 2024. Central government clearance was formally granted on July 22, 2024, encompassing DGCA site approval, Ministry of Defense no-objection certificate, and environmental clearance from MoEF&CC. The project is to be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

In March 2025, the Maharashtra state government issued a notification designating 2,823 hectares across seven villages as an MIDC industrial zone. MIDC chaired the first land acquisition review meeting on March 28, 2025.

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By February 9, 2026, the state government issued the formal Government Resolution authorizing the acquisition of 1,216.75 hectares. Maharashtra's state finance department simultaneously issued an INR 6,000 crore state guarantee, enabling MIDC to borrow for land payments.

Stakeholders Information

Purandar International Airport Project Cost

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Purandar International Airport Project.

• Managing the Growing Demand-Supply Gap: Construction of a new international airport to serve Pune city and surrounding regions, addressing the growing demand-supply gap in aviation infrastructure.
  

• Passenger Capacity: Designed for a planned capacity of 75 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).
  

• Runways: Construction of two parallel runways, each measuring 4,000 × 60 meters, capable of handling large aircraft including Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.
  

• Road Connectivity: Construction of connectivity roads linking the airport to National Highway-48 (NH-48) and National Highway-65 (NH-65).
  

• Rail Connectivity: Integration with the nearby Rajewadi railway station on the Pune–Miraj–Lonand line for multimodal connectivity.
  

• IT Park Development: Planned development of an IT Park adjacent to the airport as part of mega infrastructure projects.
  

• Greenfield Airport Infrastructure: Includes all airport infrastructure components—air traffic control tower, cargo facilities, parking aprons, maintenance hangars, and support facilities.

Project Timeline

Purandar International Airport Latest News

Here is the latest news about the Purandar International Airport Project.

Land Acquisition Progress

The acquisition of approximately 38% of the land required for the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje International Airport in Purandar is officially in process. 

The Pune district administration has received affidavits consenting to acquisition from farmers for approximately 466 hectares out of the total 1,216 hectares required across seven villages in Purandar taluka. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed on 18th May that the land acquisition process is progressing smoothly, with compensation amounts being directly transferred to farmers' bank accounts.

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) released INR 500 crore as the first tranche from the state government for the acquisition process. Over the past two weeks, INR 450 crore in compensation has already been transferred to farmers' bank accounts. The total land acquisition budget is estimated at INR 6,000 crore (INR 60 billion loan approved by the Maharashtra government).

According to the administration, affected farmers are expected to receive a minimum compensation of INR 1.61 crore per acre as the base rate. However, the effective compensation could increase to nearly INR 2 crore per acre, depending on various assets on the acquired land, including:

• Houses and residential structures

• Orchards and fruit-bearing trees

• Borewells and pipelines

• Other installations and assets
  

The compensation distribution process officially began on May 7, 2026, and the remaining funds from the INR 6,000 crore budget are expected to be transferred to the district administration shortly to complete the full acquisition. 

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project:

• Develops a Primary Aviation Hub: Purandar's 75 million passenger design capacity, nearly 10 times Lohegaon's current load, creates headroom for Pune to develop as a primary aviation hub rather than a secondary overspill market for Mumbai.
  

• A Major International Hub: The design allows the airport to handle the largest commercial and cargo aircraft, supporting 24-hour operations across two independent airfield systems, and eventually grow into a major international hub.
  

• Boost Agricultural Exports: Enables local farmers to easily transport fruits and crops to other states and countries worldwide, increasing state revenue by streamlining export processing.
  

• Economic Rise: Expected to drive significant economic growth in the Pune region and surrounding areas, boosting business activity, tourism, and trade.
  

• Real Estate Development: Driving real estate growth in surrounding areas, including Saswad, Dhanori, Bibvewadi, and Bhosle Nagar, with rising investor interest and property values.
  

• Enhanced Connectivity: Strategically located to link major industrial zones via National Highways 48 and 65, with a special ring road connecting Hadapsar industrial establishments to the airport.
  

• Supports IT and Industrial Hubs: Provides connectivity to major employment centers, including Hinjewadi IT Park and Chakan MIDC, serving businesses and travelers alike

Conclusion

The Purandar International Airport is a transformative project for Pune & Western Maharashtra. The cabinet’s approval of INR 6,000 crore for land acquisition and the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle comprising MIDC, MADC, and CIDCO mark the project's transition from planning to active implementation.

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With a capacity of 75 million passengers annually, the facility will reduce congestion at the existing Lohegaon airport while serving as a major cargo hub for the state. Furthermore, it boosts regional connectivity through six routes, including national highways 48 and 65 and a special ring road connecting major industrial establishments.

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Overall, the airport positions the region as a competitive global destination for aviation, logistics, and industrial investment. Its successful completion will not only meet the city's escalating aviation demand but also establish western and central Maharashtra as a connected economic corridor with enhanced cargo capabilities, MRO facilities, and flying training organizations.

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