Saswad residents demonstrated outside the Panchayat Samiti office, waving black flags and holding placards over land acquisition for the proposed Purandar International Airport. They raised concerns about inadequate compensation, environmental risks and socio-economic impacts.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to complete acquisition by June. The airport is expected to be operational by March 2029 and is planned to be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol attended a recent review meeting.

Initially proposed at Chakan, the airport was moved to Purandar after local opposition. It is intended to address capacity constraints at Pune’s Lohegaon Airport, which also serves as an Indian Air Force base.

Proposed in 2015, Purandar International Airport is about 50 km from Pune’s Lohegaon Airport. Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) will develop it; MIDC is handling land acquisition. The government plans to acquire about 1,285 hectares across seven Purandar taluk villages: Munjawadi, Khanvadi, Ekhatpur, Kumbharvalan, Pargaon, Udachiwadi and Vanpuri. Consent affidavits cover more than 1,150 acres, nearly 38% of the required land, and compensation payments to affected landowners have begun.

The airport could shift development toward southeast Pune, including Saswad, Fursungi and Uruli Kanchan. In late 2025, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate bought 105 acres near the airport for plotted development. Planned road upgrades linking Saswad, Jejuri and the Pune Ring Road are key to connectivity. Early development may include plotted housing, integrated townships and workforce housing, alongside aviation, logistics and warehousing activity. Jewar airport’s development has been accompanied by land-value appreciation in parts of Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway corridor.

• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport at Purandar, Pune, has seen 2,280 acres acquired, or 75% of the 3,040 acres needed in phase one.
• The detailed project report (DPR) is expected by September 2026.
• Senior talks have begun to secure the last patch of defence-controlled land needed for the existing Pune airport’s expansion.
• Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi held a grievance drive at the Saswad sub-divisional office on June 22.
• Villagers from seven affected villages, including Kumbharvalan, Vanpuri, Khanawadi and Pargaon, raised issues on land ownership disputes, succession entries, NOC requirements, rehabilitation terms and compensation delays.
• Dudi said he will visit the Purandar SDO every Monday so all concerned officials can be available at one place.
• Farmers raised concerns that private agents are charging 5% to 7% commission to speed up documentation.
• Expansion of the existing Pune airport needs 300 acres: 260 acres from private owners or other state departments and 40 acres under defence control.
• The expansion plan includes runway extension, a dedicated general aviation terminal for private helicopters and charter flights, an MRO facility, additional parking and remote bays.
• The airport, when complete, is planned to have two parallel runways of 4,000 x 60 metres and capacity of 75 million passengers per annum.
• Tenders could be floated shortly after DPR approval, depending on how quickly remaining land issues are resolved.
• The expansion is expected to add 15 new flight slots and routes to Tirupati, Mangaluru and Bagdogra.

• Villagers affected by the proposed Pune International Airport in Purandar staged a protest outside the Panchayat Samiti office in Saswad.
• They held black flags and placards.
• Concerns raised: land acquisition, insufficient compensation for farmers, and environmental and socio-economic consequences.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed MIDC to begin land acquisition for the airport in January 2025.
• The goal is to complete land acquisition by June.
• The airport is proposed to be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
• It is intended to address operational challenges at Lohegaon airport, which also serves as an Indian Air Force base.
• Chakan was earlier considered for the airport, but the plan was shelved due to local protests.
• Purandar was selected instead because it offered more space and fewer objections.
• The airport is expected to improve Pune's infrastructure, connectivity, commerce, tourism, and international travel.
• Expected operational date: March 2029.