The Pune district administration has decided to compulsorily acquire the remaining 40 hectares required for the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje International Airport at Purandar after some farmers in Pargaon refused to surrender their land voluntarily, The Bridge Chronicle reported on October 21.

Source: The Bridge Chronicle

Urban Acres, in a separate report, gave the same decision and figures: the administration will compulsorily acquire the remaining 40 hectares after landowners in Pargaon refused consent despite two deadline extensions, and District Collector Jitendra Dudi said the process would begin in the coming days.

Source: Urban Acres

The airport requires 1,216 hectares — about 3,000 acres — across seven villages in Purandar taluka: Kumbharvalan, Vanpuri, Ekhatpur, Pargaon, Munjwadi, Khanwadi and Udachiwadi. According to the administration, about 96% of farmers have agreed to the acquisition, but possession has been taken of only around 76% of the total land required, the reports said.

1,216 hectarestotal land required for the airport
40 hectaresto be compulsorily acquired
96%of farmers have consented
Rs 1.61 crorecompensation per acre

The Maharashtra government has announced compensation of Rs 1.61 crore per acre — yaani Rs 1.61 crore for every acre of land — with separate compensation for trees, wells and structures. The administration said about Rs 4,000 crore has already been credited to farmers' bank accounts. Landowners whose land is taken compulsorily will not receive the additional benefits offered to those who consented voluntarily, the administration clarified.

Farmers opposing the project had approached the Bombay High Court challenging the acquisition; the district administration said the court dismissed their petition, clearing the way for compulsory acquisition of the remaining land, The Bridge Chronicle reported.

At a glance

Project: Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje International Airport, Purandar, Pune. Land needed: 1,216 hectares in 7 villages. Consent: 96% of farmers; possession: about 76%. Remaining: 40 hectares in Pargaon to be compulsorily acquired. Compensation: Rs 1.61 crore per acre, plus separate payment for trees, wells and structures; about Rs 4,000 crore already credited, per the administration.

What is solid

  • The Pune district administration has decided to compulsorily acquire the remaining 40 hectares for the Purandar airport after Pargaon landowners refused consent despite two extensions — The Bridge Chronicle and Urban Acres.
  • The project needs 1,216 hectares across seven villages, 96% of farmers have consented, and compensation is Rs 1.61 crore per acre — both reports, citing the administration.

What is only claimed

  • The administration says compulsory-route landowners will not get the extra benefits given to voluntary consenters; farmers who opposed the project had challenged it in the Bombay High Court, which the administration says dismissed their petition.