State approves ₹3,513cr for Purandar airport land deals

State approves ₹3,513cr for Purandar airport land deals
Centre Too Expected To Allot Funds
Nisha.Nambiar & Joy.Sengupta TNN

Pune:
The state government gave administrative and financial approval of Rs 3,513 crore for land acquisition for the Purandar airport on Wednesday.
A GR issued by the general administrative department (GAD) said the state has approved the amount for acquiring about 2,376 hectares in Purandar. Of the amount, Rs 2,713 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition. The remaining is for other acquisitions. The GR said the amount would be given to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), which would be the Special Planning Authority (SPA).

Naval Kishore Ram, the Pune collector, said the next step would be the MADC’s proposal for land acquisition. “Once the MADC is appointed as the SPA, it can make a proposal for land acquisition. A separate GR, with survey numbers and the rehabilitation process, has to be issued,” he said.

Suresh Kakani, CMD of MADC, said it will be appointed as the SPA within 15-20 days. MADC officials added the Centre too will allocate funds for the airport, though a formal nod is awaited. “The funds from the Centre will either be used for project development or for land acquisition,” an official said. He added, “The project is of national interest. One must not be surprised if the Centre decides to pump in funds.”

Responding to a text asking if the Centre has allocated the funds, chief minister Fadnavis said: “Not yet.”