The Maharashtra government has taken a major step toward accelerating the development of the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport at Purandar near Pune, approving an expansion of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s (MIDC) borrowing limits to strengthen funding for large-scale infrastructure projects.
The decision was cleared in a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, enabling MIDC to raise additional financial resources, including a proposed government-backed loan of ₹6,000 crore from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). The funds are expected to support compensation payments, land acquisition costs, and early-stage development work for the airport project.
Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted funding for Maharashtra’s expanding infrastructure pipeline, which includes industrial corridors, logistics hubs, and special economic zones. With large land acquisition requirements often slowing such projects, the revised borrowing framework is intended to improve liquidity and speed up execution timelines.
The Purandar airport project has already made significant progress on the ground. According to government data, more than 60% of the approximately 3,000 acres required for the airport has effectively been secured. Farmers have submitted consent affidavits for around 1,837 acres, indicating strong participation in the acquisition process.
Land acquisition work began in May across seven villages in Purandar taluka of Pune district, covering about 1,216 hectares in total. Officials have also reported that compensation payments have crossed ₹900 crore, with funds being directly transferred to affected landowners.
One of the key factors driving progress has been the state’s compensation package, fixed at ₹1.61 crore per acre. Authorities believe this has encouraged faster consent from landowners and reduced resistance compared to earlier large-scale infrastructure projects in the region.
The MIDC’s enhanced borrowing capacity is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining momentum, particularly as the project moves into its most capital-intensive phase. Government officials argue that timely availability of funds is essential not only for land acquisition but also for future industrial development that the airport is expected to unlock in the Pune region.
