In a significant development for the long-pending Purandar International Airport project, the Pune district administration has introduced a new compensation package to accelerate land acquisition.

Farmers who voluntarily give up their land will receive developed plots equivalent to 10 percent of the total area they surrender. These plots will be located in a planned ‘AeroCity’ near the proposed airport site and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Around 700 acres have been earmarked for the AeroCity project. The revised compensation package was finalised during a high-level meeting in Mumbai last week.

In addition to receiving developed plots, the land donors will also be compensated at four times the prevailing market value of their land. Officials stated that this dual-benefit model is designed to encourage faster land acquisition and revive the stalled project.

The acquisition will be carried out under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Act, 2019. According to its provisions, only farmers who voluntarily consent to part with their land will qualify for the 10% land return scheme. Those who refuse consent will be entitled solely to monetary compensation at four times the market rate.