Pune Budget Wishlist Includes Purandar Airport Bhimashankar Upgrades
Legislators from the Pune region have placed proposals for funding the Purandar Airport and Bhimashankar connectivity upgrades high on their demands ahead of the upcoming state budget, signalling renewed political momentum for infrastructure that could reshape regional mobility and economic growth. The push highlights persistent aspirations among local representatives to accelerate airport operations while expanding access to a major religious and ecological destination — a balancing act between development, environment and inclusive urban expansion.
Pune’s Purandar Airport — envisioned as a secondary aviation hub complementing the city’s busy domestic and international flights — has been on state and regional planning agendas for several years. Local legislators are now asking for earmarked allocations to expedite runway enhancements, terminal facilities, and linkage roads, with the intention of making the airport fully operational for scheduled services. Additionally, proposals include improved road connectivity to Bhimashankar, a major pilgrimage site nestled in the Western Ghats, where mobility bottlenecks often frustrate travellers and impede economic upliftment for surrounding communities. Urban development specialists say this dual focus reflects broader trends in emerging Indian metro hinterlands, where improving airport infrastructure and linking cultural-ecological nodes is seen as a pathway to balanced regional growth. A functional Purandar Airport could ease congestion at Pune’s main airport, support cargo logistics and widen tourism circuits, while better connectivity to Bhimashankar promises to disperse economic opportunity beyond core city limits. Both projects place emphasis on integrated transport planning, a key priority for sustainable urban and regional systems.
However, the proposals come with complex environmental and governance considerations. The Bhimashankar region is noted for its rich biodiversity, including protected forest areas and wildlife corridors. Expansion of transport infrastructure in such contexts requires carefully calibrated environmental impact assessments, strict mitigation strategies and community consultations to prevent habitat disruptions and safeguard watershed functions. Urban planners also highlight that airport expansion should dovetail with climate-resilient design standards, including emissions-minimising access roads, green terminal technologies and stormwater management systems suited to monsoon-prone geographies. Equity considerations are equally significant. While improved connectivity can unlock jobs and investment, project delivery must ensure that land acquisition processes, resettlement frameworks and compensation mechanisms are transparent and fair to affected residents. Past infrastructure drives in the Pune metropolitan region have seen delays and disputes rooted in unclear titles and inadequate rehabilitation support, illustrating the importance of upfront planning in socially inclusive development.
Political analysts suggest that anchoring these infrastructure tasks in the state budget reflects a strategic alignment of regional aspirations with state planning calendars. Budgetary endorsement would not only safeguard early-stage financing but also help coordinate inter-agency implementation — from the state public works departments to aviation regulators and environmental authorities.
With Pune’s growth trajectory showing no signs of slowing, and regional communities eager for enhanced mobility, the progress of these budget proposals will be closely watched. Successful integration of airport expansion and Bhimashankar access improvements could become a model for connective infrastructure that supports economic inclusion, cultural visitation and ecological stewardship in fast-urbanising regions across India.
