Prateek Tanmay
2 min readPuneJun 11, 2026 01:24 AM IST
With plans to expand the existing Pune international airport to accommodate more flights and passengers, the Maharashtra government will acquire 300 acres of land for the airport’s expansion in Lohegaon.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and asked for the acquisition of Defence land for the expansion.
“The expansion of Pune Airport was taken up with the Union Defence minister. A total of 300 acres of land will be acquired for the further expansion of the airport, all of which will be acquired by the state government. At present, the Air Force has 35 acres of land adjacent to the Airports Authority of India terminal. The state government has shown its readiness to give 65 acres of land adjacent to the same area to the Air Force in exchange for this 35 acres of land,” said Mohol, while requesting the Defense Minister that if the Ministry gave necessary instructions to the Air Force, the work can be expedited.
The merger of Pune and Khadki Cantonment Boards with the Pune Municipal Corporation was also discussed, he said adding, “The state government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sent a proposal in April to the Defence Ministry to merge the lands of both Cantonment Boards in the Municipal Corporation,” he said.
The Air Force had issued vacating notices to citizens of Indiranagar-Burma Shell Colony in Lohegaon. There are 1,100 to 1,150 houses in this area of about five acres, and about 5,500 to 6,000 citizens have been living here since 1980. The Municipal Corporation’s schools, hospitals and other civic facilities are also available in this area. In November 2025, Mohol had drawn the Defense Minister’ attention to the matter.
“Many important issues of the Defense Department related to the development of Pune and the welfare of the citizens were pending for some time. There was a positive discussion with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and he has instructed the concerned officers to take necessary action. I am confident that concrete decisions will be taken soon regarding the expansion of Pune Airport, merger of Cantonments and the issues of the citizens of Indiranagar and the issues will be resolved,” said Mohol.
