Land Registration Begins for Parandur Airport Amid Allegations of Coercion

Land acquisition for Chennai’s second airport at Parandur has officially begun, with 19 landowners from five villages registering a total of 17.52 acres on Wednesday. The land, valued at ₹9.22 crore, has been registered in the name of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), which is overseeing the ambitious infrastructure project.

According to officials, landowners from Parandur, Podavur, Nelvoy, Valathur, and Akkamapuram met with the Kancheepuram Collector and agreed to the acquisition terms outlined in a recent Government Order issued on June 25. Compensation is being directly credited to the landowners’ bank accounts.

Despite the registration, district authorities clarified that immediate possession of the land would not be taken. “Farmers will be allowed to harvest their standing crops before handing over the land,” said an official. “Except for residents of Ekanapuram, most villages have shown readiness.”

On the housing front, the process remains on hold. “We cannot proceed with acquiring houses until alternative housing is constructed and made livable,” the official continues.

Yet, the acquisition process has to be free of controversies. The Parandur Airport Project Protestors Committee accuses the government of ignoring the rights of the landowners. They have stated that travel and food arrangements were allegedly made for some villagers, who were coerced or threatened to register their consent for the acquisition of their land.

Many in Ekanapuram, particularly, have expressed their resistance regarding the Parandur airport, which is intended to alleviate congestion from the already functioning Chennai International Airport, citing environment-related issues as well as their livelihood issues.

The various protest groups continue to oppose the phased acquisition being carried out by the government, meaning it may face many more roadblocks through these efforts over time.