Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced that the state will abandon the proposed greenfield international airport project at Parandur and instead search for an alternative location near Chennai. The decision was announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday, August 24, citing concerns over agricultural land, local livelihoods and the impact on residents.
The state government has now begun the process of identifying possible alternative sites for Chennai’s second airport. According to the Industries Policy Note, the new location will be selected after consultations with experts, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will conduct feasibility studies of shortlisted sites. The final decision will be taken based on these assessments.
Vijay said Chennai still urgently needs a second international airport to handle the city’s growing passenger traffic, cargo movement and industrial requirements. However, he stressed that development should not come at the cost of farmers and local communities. The Parandur proposal had faced sustained protests from residents of the proposed site and surrounding villages over land acquisition and displacement.
The Parandur airport project, first announced in 2022 by the previous DMK government, was planned in Kancheepuram district, around 68.5 km from central Chennai. The proposed project had involved a large land requirement and significant land acquisition. Reports indicate that around 1,500-1,700 acres had already been acquired before the project was dropped.
While the government searches for a new site, it also plans to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam. AAI is working on a new passenger-handling system on the north-west side of the airport to increase capacity and improve passenger and cargo operations. The agency has also sought state government permission to build a connecting road to the national highway.
The decision has triggered a political controversy in Tamil Nadu. Former Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin criticised the cancellation, calling it a major setback for the state’s development. Supporters of the new government, however, argue that the decision prioritises farmers, environmental concerns and the interests of affected communities.
For now, the focus is on finding a suitable alternative site that can meet Chennai’s long-term aviation needs without causing the level of displacement and agricultural loss associated with the Parandur proposal.
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