Airport type Public Runway 1 (North) 4,000 | Elevation AMSL 2,277 ft / 694 m Elevation 646 m | |
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Operator Maharashtra Airport Development Company Serves Pune Metropolitan Area) Location Purandar, Pune district Owner Maharashtra Airport Development Company | ||
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Pune International Airport is a proposed greenfield international airport to serve the city of Pune, India. The airport will be located near the villages of Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur-Munjawadi, Khanwadi, Pargaon Memane, Vanpuri,Udachiwadi near Saswad in Purandar taluka of Pune District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis declared that the first flight from this airport is expected take off by 2019 and will be named after Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shambhaji who was born at Purandhar fort.
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The Airports Authority of India conducted surveys on various areas near Pune city 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 Purandhar 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.
Background
Lohegaon 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.
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.
Connection
Rajewadi railway station on the Pune–Miraj–Londa line is nearest to the site. An approach road will be constructed to the airport from the city but the decision for connection with rapid transit systems is yet to be finalised.
Protests
The farmers in this villages are against the project ,farmers do not want to give even 1 inch land for project. Ever 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 agitating landowners. on December 26 2016 After a lull, thousands of villagers from six villages in Purandar on Monday blocked the Pune-Pandharpur Road for nearly two hours, in protest against the new airport. The landowners in Purandar taluka threatened to intensify their agitation against the project if the government's stand didn't change immediately.After the road blockade, the villagers marched to the residence-cum-office of Purandar MLA Vijay Shivtare, where they staged a protest in front of the gate.Armed with black flags, the agitators, who included many women, blocked the road up to a stretch of around 2km, not letting any vehicles through.