The proposed Purandar Airport near Khanwadi in Pune district has entered another phase of uncertainty after the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) issued a tender for a fresh survey of the project site. The study will examine the airport’s technical, economic, social and environmental feasibility, leaving farmers, landowners, local residents and investors waiting for clarity on the project’s next steps.
The proposed international airport has generated expectations around rising land values, employment, industrial development and improved infrastructure in Purandar taluka since it was announced. At the same time, some farmers have opposed giving up their land, while questions over land acquisition and the effect on local livelihoods have remained central to the project.
The new survey is expected to assess whether the proposed location is technically suitable and whether the infrastructure required to build and operate the airport can be provided. It will also examine the estimated project cost, its financial viability and whether the airport can generate the expected economic benefits over the long term.
The social and environmental assessment will consider the project’s possible effect on residents, agriculture, employment and traditional livelihoods. The area’s orchards, biodiversity, natural resources and ecological balance are also expected to form part of the assessment. The findings could identify implementation challenges or changes required in the existing project plan.
The review is also expected to cover earlier planning, permissions and the status of land-acquisition procedures. Authorities may need to establish whether previous approvals remain valid, whether their conditions have been met and whether additional permissions are required because of changes in the project’s circumstances.
The tender does not by itself establish that the airport project has been cancelled. The project’s final direction will depend on the survey report and the decision subsequently taken by the state government. If the proposed site is found to be technically unsuitable, financially unviable or affected by serious social and environmental constraints, changes to the plan, consideration of an alternative site or a review of the project could follow. If the site meets the required criteria, the project could move towards further approvals, legal procedures and financial planning.
A public-private partnership model is also being considered as a possible route for developing the Purandar Airport. Under such an arrangement, the government and a private partner would have to determine their respective roles in investment, construction, operations and financial responsibility. The project’s total cost, expected revenue, investor response and availability of supporting infrastructure would be important factors in that process.
The fresh survey has added to uncertainty in local land markets. Some people have reportedly bought or sold land expecting higher prices, while others have planned investments around possible industrial and commercial growth. However, if the airport is delayed or its footprint changes, the timing and value expectations associated with these transactions may be affected.
The report also notes that cancellation of the airport would not automatically allow the affected land to be used for other private projects. Future land use would depend on landowners’ rights, the status of acquisition, the applicable development plan and relevant legal provisions.
Mahesh Raut of the Purandar Nagrik Sajag Manch has sought an inquiry into agents and alleged middlemen operating around the land-acquisition office. Attention is now focused on MADC’s next steps, including the completion of the survey, submission of its report and the government’s decision on the project.
