New Pune Airport

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport is a proposed greenfield airport project to serve the city of Pune, India.[1] It will be built near Saswad and Jejuri in Purandar taluka of Pune District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In 2016, it was announced that the proposed airport would be spread over 2,400 hectares.[2][3] The airport would be named after the King of the Maratha Empire, Sambhaji Maharaj, who was born at Purandar fort.[4][5]

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
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 is located in Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
Location of airport in India
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport is located in India
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport
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

The CIDCO will hold a 51 percent stake in the SPV, while MADC's stake will be around 19 percent. The remaining 30 percent will be divided between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).[6] 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 build the new airport in Purandar taluka as it was a flatter region compared to Chakan. This airport will also boost trade from Pune and neighboring districts as it will have its own dedicated cargo terminal.[7]

Background

Lohagaon Air Force Station serves as the main passenger airport for the city of Pune. Due to its status as a "restricted international airport," only two to four international flights can operate from there. Moreover, it is an Air Force base and has a single civil terminal that operates both international as well as domestic traffic.[8]

Almost 65 to 70 flights operate connecting major domestic destinations. This is crowding the existing airport and leading to flight delays as the airport has only eight parking bays. Of those, one is used for VIP's and another is used for charter operations. The remaining parking bays 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 Pune is one of the fastest-growing cities in India and is included in the Smart City program of the Indian government. However, until the completion of the new international airport, the existing airport will be expanded with a second terminal.[9]

Connection

The project site is located near the villages of Ambodi, Sonori, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur-Munjawadi, Khanwadi, Pargaon Memane, Rajewadi, Aamble, Tekwadi, Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, and Singapur. Rajewadi railway station on the Pune–Miraj–Lonand line is nearest to the site. The proposed airport will be connected by 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.[10]

Proposed Airport Structure

The new Pune International Airport, which is set to come up at Purandar, will serve as a cargo hub for the state. There are many farmers in nearby areas like Satara who cultivate fruits like grapes and pomegranates, among other crops. With the new airport and the state-of-the-art cargo, their crops can be easily transported to other states and countries globally. At present, Maharashtra does not have a good cargo network. A proper cargo hub is expected to increase state revenue as exports can be smoothly processed as well as create new job opportunities.

Project timeline
  • July 2002: Central government approved for building an international airport near Chakan.[11]
  • February 2009: Maharashtra government approved a seed capital of Rs.200 crore for the airport near Chakan. The proposed airport will be developed on 3,300 ha of which the airport will come up on 1,500 ha with two air strips. The project will involve seven villages in the region-Chandoos, Shirol, Waki, Budruk, Koregaon Budruk, Kiwle, Pimpri Thakur and Wadgaon. The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) will execute the project.[12]
  • December 2015: After oppositions from land owners and farmers, government decides to shift airport location after a decade of failure to acquire land for international airport, government re-notifies area for industrial use.[13]
  • September 2016: Government proposes Purandar in Pune district for the proposed international airport site. The team comprising 15 officials on Sunday visited Pargaon Memane, Rajewadi, Waghapur, Ambodi, Pisarve, Rajodi, Jejuri and Saswad villages for a technical feasibility survey of the location for the proposed airport. The airport was expected to be fully functional by 2021.[14]
  • September 2020: Government's proposal for site change from the proposed land in Purandar after land owners and farmers oppostion.

See also

References
  1. "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport". Indian Express. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  2. "It's official: Pune to get new international airport at Purandar". Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. "Airports Authority Selects Purandar For International Airport Near Pune: Devendra Fadnavis". NDTV. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. "2018, the year that was:Land acquisition biggest hurdle for Purandar airport to take off". Hindustan Times. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary: Interesting facts about second ruler of the Maratha empire". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  6. "Cabinet nod to form SPV for Purandar intl airport in Pune". 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. "Proposed airport to be cargo hub, says MADC". 17 December 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  8. "It's official: Pune to get new international airport at Purandar". Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  9. "New airport will take 5 years to start operational". 16 February 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  10. "Pune to get new greenfield international airport at Purandar". The Times of India. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  11. "Chakan Airport is a long haul". Times of India. 27 July 2002. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  12. "International airport near Pune gets State cabinet approval". Projects Today. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  13. "It's official: No airport at Chakan". Times of India. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  14. "It's official: No airport at Chakan". Hindustan Times. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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