Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to initiate land acquisition for the proposed international airport at Purandar in Pune district this month and complete it by June.

He made the announcement during a recent high-level meeting where he directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to spearhead the process. The official notification regarding land acquisition is set to be published by the end of January.

The airport is intended to address operational and expansion challenges faced by the current airport at Lohegaon, which also serves as an Indian Air Force base. The project, spanning 2,300 hectares, aims to meet the demand for an international airport in Pune. 

Officials from the district collectorate reported that the Chief Minister emphasised completing the acquisition process promptly, stating, “Ensure the entire operation is completed by June.”

The new airport is expected to become operational by 2029 and will be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Earlier, the international airport was proposed at Chakan. However, due to protests by local residents, the plan was abandoned, and Purandar was selected as the final site.