Tamil Nadu has shortlisted two alternative locations for Chennai’s proposed second airport, days after the state government decided to drop the controversial Parandur greenfield airport project.
The TVK-led government has identified Manellore and Cheyyur as potential sites for the new airport, according to reports. Both locations have been recommended to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for feasibility studies.
The two sites were shortlisted within a week of the government announcing that it would abandon the Parandur plan and search for another location. Manellore is around 60 km from Chennai, while Cheyyur is approximately 100 km away.
The proposed airport is expected to serve the growing Chennai Metropolitan Area and provide additional aviation capacity to the city.
Why Parandur was dropped
The Parandur airport project had faced strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups. The state government cited concerns related to water bodies, wetlands, flooding and public opposition while deciding to look for an alternative site.
Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar, while defending the decision in the Assembly, accused the previous DMK government of pursuing land acquisition without completing an environmental impact assessment and obtaining necessary approvals.
Kumar said the proposed Parandur airport required around 5,846 acres of land, including 3,774 acres of private patta land. Of this, he said, around 2,681 acres consisted of fertile agricultural land.
The minister also said that out of 1,972 acres of government land required for the project, around 1,558 acres consisted of water bodies and canals. According to him, only about 1,802 acres, or 48% of the required land, had been acquired.
Land acquisition had also not started in several villages, including Ekanapuram, Karai, Thandalam and Siruvalur.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had earlier said nearly 55% of the land earmarked for the Parandur airport consisted of water bodies and wetlands. He argued that this could create safety concerns for runway operations and increase the risk of flooding.
Vijay said his government was not opposed to development but wanted an alternative airport site that would be technically viable and face no public opposition.
Opposition questions decision
The Parandur project, launched by the previous DMK government in 2022 in Kancheepuram district, was estimated to cost ₹27,400 crore. Farmers and villagers, particularly residents of Ekanapuram, had staged prolonged protests against the project.
The decision to abandon Parandur has been criticised by the Opposition DMK, which has argued that shifting the airport could cause an economic setback.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also questioned what would happen to land already acquired for the project and whether it would be returned to its original owners.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna alleged that the Parandur project involved a major real estate scam. The government has now shifted its focus to finding a new location, with Manellore and Cheyyur set to undergo further feasibility assessment.
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