The Maharashtra government on Tuesday granted administrative and financial approval of ₹104.48 crore for land acquisition for the proposed airport in Gadchiroli, a project being pushed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also serves as the district's guardian minister.
Land Acquisition Details
The approval covers the acquisition of 311.81 hectares of government, private, and forest land spread across Shirapur Chak, Guruwala, Hirapur, and Rakhi villages for the development of the greenfield airport project. The proposal, submitted by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), was cleared by the empowered committee headed by the state chief secretary during its meeting on May 8. A formal government resolution was later issued by the General Administration Department.
Financial Breakdown
According to the government order, ₹76.99 crore has been sanctioned for the acquisition of 245.75 hectares of private land, while ₹10.07 crore has been approved for the diversion of 34.68 hectares of forest land. The total approved expenditure of ₹87.07 crore also includes compensation-related provisions. The remaining amount accounts for establishment and administrative expenses under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, project implementation charges, and an estimated 10% escalation in project costs.
Land Transfer and Authority
The government has also approved the transfer of 31.38 hectares of land free of cost to MADC. The agency has been formally designated as the land acquisition and implementation authority for the airport project, while the Gadchiroli collector has been empowered as the acquisition officer.
Cancellation of Previous Order
The latest order also cancels an earlier government resolution issued on December 13, 2024, relating to land acquisition in Murkhala, Pulkhal, and Kaneri villages for the same airport project.
Expected Impact
The proposed airport is expected to improve regional connectivity in eastern Maharashtra, particularly in Gadchiroli, a district that has long remained geographically isolated despite recent industrial and infrastructure investments. The project aligns with the state government's broader push to expand aviation infrastructure into underserved regions.
