New Pune Airport

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport is proposed to serve the city of Pune, India. The greenfield airport will be located near the villages of Ambodi, Sonori, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur-Munjawadi, Khanwadi, Pargaon Memane, Rajewadi, Aamble, Tekwadi, Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Singapur near Saswad and Jejuri in Purandar taluka of Pune District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The CIDCO will hold 51 per cent stake in the SPV, while MADC's stake will be around 19 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent will be divided between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).[2] The Government of Maharashtra has declared that the first flight from this airport is expected to take off by 2019 and the airport will be named after the King of Maratha Empire, Sambhaji Maharaj who was born at Purandar fort.[3] The Airports Authority of India conducted surveys on various areas near Pune for a new airport for the city. Initially a site near Chakan was fixed for the airport. But due to opposition from local farmers and the mountainous terrain, the government decided to set the new airport in Purandar taluka as it was a flatter region compared to Chakan. The proposed airport in Purandar will be spread over 2,400 hectares.[4][5] This airport will also boost trade from Pune and neighbouring districts as it will have its own dedicated cargo terminal.[6]

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport[1]
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity and Industrial Development Corporation
OperatorMaharashtra Airport Development Company
ServesPune Metropolitan Area
LocationPurandar, Pune district, Maharashtra
Elevation AMSL2,277 ft / 694 m
Coordinates18°20′56″N 074°08′02″E
Map
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
Location of airport in India
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
Runway 1 (North) 4,000 13,123 Asphalt
Runway 2 (South) 4,000 13,123 Asphalt

Background

Lohagaon air force station serves as an international airport for the city. Due to restricted traffic, only two to four international flights can operate from the airport. Moreover, it is an Air Force base and has a single civil terminal which operates both international as well as domestic traffic.[7]

Almost 65 to 70 flights operate connecting major domestic destinations. This is crowding the existing airport and leading to delay of flights as the airport has only eight parking bays out of which one is used for VIP's and other is used for charter operations and the remaining carry the load of international as well as domestic flights. Hence, this led to the need for a dedicated international airport for the city as the city is one of the fastest growing cities in India and is included in the Smart City program of the Indian government. However, until completion of the new airport, the existing airport will be expanded.[8]

Connection

Rajewadi railway station on the Pune–Miraj–Londa line is nearest to the site. The proposed airport will be connected with six different routes including national highways 48 and 65. There will also be a special ring-road connecting major industrial establishments with the proposed airport from Hadapsar.[9]

Land acquisition protests

The farmers in these villages are against the project due to concerns of land loss. Since it was announced that the proposed Pune international airport would come up in Purandar Taluka, local villagers and landowners have been up in arms in protest. Several attempts made by the government and district administration have failed to pacify the agitated landowners. On 26 December 2016, after a lull, thousands of villagers from six villages in Purandar blocked the Pune-Pandharpur Road for nearly two hours, in protest against the new airport.[10]

References
  1. "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport". Indian Express. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  2. "Cabinet nod to form SPV for Purandar intl airport in Pune". 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  3. Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600-1818 (1. publ. ed.). New York: Cambridge University. pp. 74–78. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.
  4. "It's official: Pune to get new international airport at Purandar". Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  5. "Airports Authority Selects Purandar For International Airport Near Pune: Devendra Fadnavis". NDTV. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. "Proposed airport to be cargo hub, says MADC". 17 December 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. "It's official: Pune to get new international airport at Purandar". Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  8. "New airport will take 5 years to start operational". 16 February 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  9. "Pune to get new greenfield international airport at Purandar". The Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  10. Sengupta, Joy (27 December 2016). "Purandar protesters raise voice after brief interval". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
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