| Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport | |
| Type: | Public |
| Owner: | City and Industrial Development Corporation |
| Operator: | Maharashtra Airport Development Company |
| City-Served: | Pune Metropolitan Area |
| Location: | Pune, Pune district, Maharashtra |
| Elevation-F: | 2,277 |
| Elevation-M: | 694 |
| Coordinates: | 18.3489°N 74.1339°W |
| Pushpin Map: | India Maharashtra#India |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of airport in India |
| Pushpin Label: | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| R1-Number: | Runway 1 (North) |
| R1-Length-F: | 13,123 |
| R1-Length-M: | 4,000 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Metric-Rwy: | 2 |
| R2-Number: | Runway 2 (South) |
| R2-Length-M: | 4,000 |
| R2-Length-F: | 13,123 |
| R2-Surface: | Asphalt |
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport is a proposed greenfield airport project to serve the city of Pune, India.[1] It will be built near Pune in Pune District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In 2016, it was announced that the proposed airport would be spread over 2,400 hectares.[2] [3] The airport would be named after the King of the Maratha Empire, Sambhaji Maharaj, who was born at Purandar fort.[4] [5]
The CIDCO will hold a 51 percent stake in the SPV, while MADC's stake will be around 19 percent. The remaining 30 percent will be divided between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).[6] The Airports Authority of India conducted surveys on various areas near Pune for a new airport for the city. Initially, a site near Chakan was chosen for the airport but due to opposition from local farmers and the mountainous terrain, the government decided to build the new airport in Purandar taluka as it was a flatter region compared to Chakan. The airport is planned to include a dedicated cargo terminal.[7]
Lohagaon Air Force Station serves as the main passenger airport for the city of Pune. Due to its status as a "restricted international airport," only two to four international flights may operate from there. As an Air Force base it has only a single civil terminal that operates both international and domestic traffic.[8]
Almost 65 to 70 flights currently operate, connecting the area major domestic destinations. This has caused crowding at the existing airport and has led to flight delays as the airport has only eight parking bays. Of those, one is used for VIP traffic and another is used for charter operations. The remaining parking bays are used for international as well as domestic flights. This has led to the need for a dedicated international airport for the city, as Pune is one of the fastest-growing cities in India and is included in the Smart City program of the Indian government. The existing airport will be expanded with a second terminal while the new airport is being constructed.[9]
The project site is located near the villages of Ambodi, Sonori, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur-Munjawadi, Khanwadi,https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%80 Pargaon Memane, Rajewadi, Aamble, Tekwadi, Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, and Singapur. Rajewadi railway station on the Pune–Miraj–Lonand line is also located near the site. The proposed airport will be connected by six different routes including national highways 48 and 65. There will also be a special ring-road connecting major industrial establishments from Hadapsar with the proposed airport.[10]
The new Pune International Airport will serve as a cargo hub for the state. Many nearby farmers cultivate fruits such as grapes and pomegranates, among other crops. With the new airport, their crops can be transported to other states and countries globally. This cargo hub is expected to increase state revenue as exports can be easily processed as well as create new job opportunities.