The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has initiated a comprehensive survey in Purandar tehsil to curb illegal land plotting amid the ongoing land acquisition for the proposed Purandar international airport. The move comes after a surge in complaints from residents about unauthorised layouts and misleading transactions in areas witnessing a sharp rise in land prices.
According to officials, the PMRDA’s teams are inspecting plots across several villages falling within its planning jurisdiction. The survey aims to detect and penalise unauthorised layouts, while ensuring that land buyers are protected from fraudulent sales linked to the anticipated airport development. The authority has urged citizens to verify land ownership and approval documents before any purchase. An official from PMRDA said the drive follows a spate of illegal plotting activities triggered by speculation around the airport’s location. “The survey operations in Purandar are intended to prevent manipulation of land records and to maintain planned development in the region. Once reports are finalised, strict action will be taken against violators as per the commissioner’s directives,” the official said.
The ongoing land acquisition covers approximately 150 hectares across three villages, forming the core site for the airport project. However, unauthorised subdivisions and sales have proliferated in neighbouring villages, prompting the authority to widen its vigilance. The current survey spans about 15 villages including Dive, Gunholi, Ketkawale, Vanpuri, and Sonori — all within PMRDA’s planning zone. Experts have noted that unchecked land transactions not only risk defrauding investors but could also hinder future urban infrastructure planning. “When informal land markets expand unchecked, it compromises both urban design and environmental safeguards,” said an urban planning expert. “PMRDA’s proactive intervention can ensure equitable land use and safeguard green cover around large infrastructure projects like airports.”
While some local farmers have welcomed the move as necessary to prevent fraud, others have voiced concern over delayed approvals for legitimate transactions. Several residents have called for greater clarity from the state government on which parcels are earmarked for acquisition to avoid confusion and market speculation. Officials said the PMRDA’s broader mission is to promote transparent, sustainable urban growth across the Pune Metropolitan Region. The agency has previously cracked down on unauthorised developments in Hinjewadi, Chakan, and Khed, and similar enforcement models are now being replicated in Purandar.
By tightening monitoring mechanisms, PMRDA aims to uphold planned urbanisation standards — ensuring that development around critical infrastructure projects like the Purandar airport proceeds sustainably, legally, and equitably.
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