Despite the Maharashtra government’s renewed focus on developing the Purandar airport, property transactions in the region remain sluggish, showing only marginal growth over the past year. Official data reveals that 3,602 sale documents were registered in 2024, a slight increase from the 3,315 recorded in 2023. While the numbers indicate some growth, they are far from the surge expected after the airport project received its necessary technical clearances over a year ago.

The primary reasons for the sluggishness in property deals are attributed to two major factors: an ongoing land acquisition process and resistance from local villagers. “Even though the project has been in discussion for the last two years, property deals are not high. Once the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) issues a formal notification on land acquisition, transactions are expected to gain momentum,” said a registration department official.

This anticipation is linked to the government’s recent steps, including a meeting led by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, where the MIDC was designated as the project’s nodal agency. The push for the airport comes as the Navi Mumbai international airport is set to begin operations this year, further highlighting the need for a second airport to meet the growing demand in the region. However, despite the government’s push, property developers and investors remain cautious, taking a ‘wait and watch’ approach, especially in the seven villages directly affected by the land acquisition. These villages — Pargaon Memane, Ekhatpur, Munjwadi, Kumbharvalan, Udachiwadi, Vanpuri, and Khanavadi — are slated to provide the land for the airport project, but the uncertainty surrounding land acquisition is deterring both developers and potential buyers.

Local sentiment also adds to the delay, with many villagers voicing their opposition to the land acquisition. Some villagers have expressed their desire to sell their land but are waiting for a formal discussion. One local resident, who owns around 5,000 sqft in Pargaon Memane, said, “We are among a group of villagers who want to sell their land. We are awaiting a formal discussion.” However, there are others who are strongly against giving up any land and had even openly voiced their discontent during the assembly elections. Newly elected MLA Vijay Shivtare has been cautious in addressing the issue with locals, likely to avoid further alienating them. The resistance from villagers could create additional challenges for the project, further slowing the pace of land transactions. An official from the MIDC stated that once the land acquisition notification is issued, the government will enforce directives to stop transactions in the notified villages. However, this has not yet occurred, leaving developers and residents in a state of uncertainty.

A Pune-based builder, who had previously announced a project in Purandar, echoed the sentiment, stating that without a clear timeline from the state government regarding land acquisition, developers would be hesitant to invest in the area. “Until we know when land acquisition will occur, we are not looking at investments,” the builder said. In general, land transactions in Purandar taluka, which consists of 108 villages, typically range between 3,000 and 3,500 annually. The government had initially planned to establish Pune district’s second international airport in the taluka in 2018, approximately 50 km from Pune city, to cater to the growing demand for air travel in the region. However, despite the promise of the airport bringing economic benefits, the slow pace of property transactions and local opposition highlight the challenges that still lie ahead for this ambitious project. As the Maharashtra government pushes forward with its plans, the real estate market in Purandar will remain in flux, waiting for key milestones in land acquisition and project development to unlock potential growth.