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Purandar Airport: Rs 1 crore per acre for land acquisition ‘not acceptable’, farmers demand more

Collector hopes to begin money distribution by Nov-end

2 min readPuneNov 4, 2025 06:45 AM IST

In a press note, the District Collectorate said that the government has proposed four times the ready reckoner (RR) rate while the farmers demanded that five times the RR rate be provided (Representative image)

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi told The Indian Express that the government hopes to begin money distribution as early as November end for the Purandar Airport land acquisition, where a proposal for Rs 1 crore per acre has been presented to farmers. In addition to this, houses, borewells, pipelines, tree covers, and other such features will be compensated for double their value. The proposal was presented to representatives of the seven Purandar villages last week, who demanded higher compensation.

Tushar Zhurange, upsarpanch of Munjawadi, told The Indian Express, “The rate of Rs 1 crore per acre is not acceptable to any of the farmers. It is very low compared to projects like Samruddhi Mahamarg or the Palkhi Marg. We have not given a number to the Collector but have asked him to come and hold meetings with us in the villages, after which we will decide on a number.”

In a press note, the District Collectorate said that the government has proposed four times the ready reckoner (RR) rate while the farmers demanded that five times the RR rate be provided.

Dudi in a statement said, “As per the notification issued by the government on March 17, 2025, efforts will be made to ensure fair compensation, transparency and protection of the interests of the farmers, as per the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 and to give positive consideration to the demands of the farmers and to get them compensation as per the government rules.”

Land from seven villages Ekhatpur, Khanwadi, Kumbharwalan, Munjawadi, Pargaon, Udachiwadi and Vanpuri is being acquired for the construction of the airport.

So far, the government has offered farmers 10% of the area of acquired land will be a developed plot for industrial/commercial/residential or mixed purposes in MIDC area (minimum of 100 sq m); 250 sq m residential plot in AeroCity, if a house is being acquired; a cash amount equal to 750 days minimum agricultural wages if a family becomes landless in the acquisition; and 500 days minimum agricultural wages to those who become small land holders, a migration grant of Rs 40,000 for families whose houses will be acquired, and other benefits.

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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