India, Aug. 22 -- The Maharashtra government has decided to acquire only 3,000 acres of land instead of the earlier 7,000 acres for the proposed Purandar International Airport, with landowners to receive four times the current market price as compensation.

Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said that the decision, taken on August 20, will help free a significant number of farmers from land acquisition. "The district administration will start accepting consent letters from farmers beginning August 25. The voluntary submission window will remain open for 21 days, and those who come forward will get additional benefits," Dudi said. A special desk has been set up at the Saswad subdivision office for processing applications. Dudi added tha...