Fadnavis orders Purandar Airport push, Shirdi upgrade before Kumbh 2027
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has put airport infrastructure on a war footing — ordering deadline-bound completion of the ₹6,000 crore Purandar International Airport and urgent upgrades at Shirdi ahead of Kumbh Mela 2027. With MADC juggling seven airports simultaneously and passenger demand set to surge by 2035, Maharashtra is betting big on aviation as a growth lever.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis directed MADC on 30 August to fast-track Purandar International Airport and upgrade Shirdi International Airport before Kumbh Mela 2027 .
HUDCO has sanctioned a loan of ₹6,000 crore for the Purandar Airport project, driven by a joint venture of CIDCO , MIDC , and PMRDA .
MADC is simultaneously developing seven airports across Maharashtra, with Ratnagiri Airport nearing completion.
Modernisation provisions include ₹64 crore for Baramati Airport and ₹38 crore for Latur Airport .
Seaplane services and a Flight Training School at Amravati Airport are among new initiatives under discussion.
Passenger traffic across the state is projected to rise sharply by 2035 , driving the infrastructure push.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 30 August directed the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to accelerate work on the Purandar International Airport and urgently upgrade facilities at Shirdi International Airport ahead of the Kumbh Mela 2027. The directives came at the 93rd meeting of MADC's Board of Directors in Mumbai.
Purandar Airport: Funding and Timelines
Fadnavis stressed that the joint venture driving the Purandar project — comprising CIDCO, MIDC, and PMRDA — must stay on schedule. He noted that HUDCO has sanctioned a loan of ₹6,000 crore for the project, providing a significant funding anchor. The Chief Minister made clear that deadline adherence is non-negotiable.
Shirdi Airport: Kumbh Mela Preparedness
With the Kumbh Mela 2027 expected to draw a sharp surge in domestic and international devotees as well as chartered flights, Fadnavis instructed officials to complete the taxiway, apron, Air Cargo Complex, and associated facilities at Shirdi International Airport on priority. The upgradation is aimed at ensuring the airport can absorb the anticipated spike in air traffic without operational bottlenecks.
MADC's Statewide Expansion
MADC is currently developing seven airports across Maharashtra — Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gondia, and Amravati — with Ratnagiri Airport nearing completion, pending Coast Guard clearances. A provision of ₹64 crore has been earmarked for Baramati Airport modernisation and ₹38 crore for Latur Airport. Runway extension work is underway at Karad Airport to enable night-landing operations.
Plans also include a flying club at Chandrapur, airport developments in Dharashiv and Yavatmal, and a new passenger terminal at Nanded Airport, which currently handles nine flights. Direct services to Chandigarh and Amritsar from Nanded are under consideration.
Nagpur, Gadchiroli and New Frontiers
Fadnavis said MADC is advancing projects at Nagpur's MIHAN hub, including a hospital proposal modelled on AIIMS through the Indian Institute of Public Health. Site selection for a new airport in Gadchiroli is in progress, while Amravati Airport will soon host a Flight Training School, with DGCA inspections scheduled for night-landing facilities.
Under the UDAN scheme, funds have been allocated for Solapur's Hotgi Airport, with Mumbai–Solapur flights planned. Seaplane services at Pawna, Koradi, Gangapur, Ratnagiri, and Ganpatipule were also discussed at the meeting.
Looking Ahead
Officials indicated that passenger traffic across Maharashtra is expected to rise sharply by 2035, necessitating sustained infrastructure expansion. With Kumbh 2027 as the immediate deadline and a decade-long demand curve in view, the pace of MADC's delivery will be closely watched by both the aviation sector and the state government.
Point of View
But MADC is simultaneously managing seven greenfield and brownfield projects — a bandwidth challenge that has historically led to delays in Indian state-level aviation bodies. The Kumbh 2027 deadline for Shirdi is firm and non-negotiable given religious tourism stakes, but Purandar's timeline is more elastic, and the ₹6,000 crore HUDCO loan still needs to translate into on-ground execution. The broader question is whether Maharashtra can avoid the fate of other states where UDAN-linked airports were announced with fanfare and then stalled at land acquisition or clearance stages. The seaplane ambitions, while innovative, have a poor track record nationally and deserve scrutiny before resources are committed.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Purandar International Airport project?
The Purandar International Airport is a greenfield airport project near Pune, Maharashtra, being developed by a joint venture of CIDCO, MIDC, and PMRDA under MADC. HUDCO has sanctioned a loan of ₹6,000 crore for the project, and CM Fadnavis has directed the team to complete it within the stipulated timeframe.
Why is Shirdi Airport being upgraded urgently?
Shirdi International Airport is being upgraded ahead of the Kumbh Mela 2027, which is expected to bring a sharp surge in domestic and international devotees as well as chartered flights. CM Fadnavis has ordered completion of the taxiway, apron, and Air Cargo Complex on priority to handle the anticipated traffic spike.
How many airports is MADC currently developing in Maharashtra?
MADC is currently developing seven airports across Maharashtra — Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gondia, and Amravati. Ratnagiri Airport is nearing completion, pending Coast Guard clearances.
What is the UDAN scheme's role in Maharashtra's airport expansion?
Funds under the central government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme have been allocated for Solapur's Hotgi Airport, with Mumbai–Solapur flights planned under the initiative. UDAN is designed to make air travel affordable and connect smaller cities to major hubs.
What new aviation initiatives were discussed at the MADC board meeting?
The 93rd MADC board meeting discussed seaplane services at Pawna, Koradi, Gangapur, Ratnagiri, and Ganpatipule; a Flight Training School at Amravati Airport; an AIIMS-modelled hospital at Nagpur's MIHAN hub; and site selection for a new airport in Gadchiroli.
