Parandur Airport Project Dropped as Tamil Nadu Looks for Alternative Site

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced that the proposed ₹27,400 crore greenfield airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district will be dropped, following sustained opposition from local villagers and farmers concerned about land acquisition and the loss of agricultural land.

The announcement marks a major shift in the state’s plans for expanding Chennai’s aviation infrastructure. The government is now examining alternative locations that could accommodate a second airport while limiting the impact on residential settlements and farming communities.

Vijay said the government was aware of the importance of additional airport capacity for Chennai’s long-term industrial and economic growth. However, he maintained that the concerns of farmers and residents around Parandur needed to be addressed. The Chief Minister also said he had personally visited the area and interacted with villagers before taking a position on the project.

Officials are expected to assess alternative sites based on land availability, connectivity, environmental considerations and the extent of displacement involved. The change in location is likely to push back the site-selection process, as a fresh feasibility assessment will be required before a new site can be finalised.

The Parandur airport proposal had envisaged a large aviation facility with two runways, terminal buildings, taxiways, an apron and a dedicated cargo terminal. The airport was planned to eventually handle up to 10 crore passengers annually, supporting Chennai’s growing passenger and cargo requirements.

The existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam currently handles more than 2.2 crore passengers a year. Its ongoing modernisation is expected to increase annual capacity to around 3.5 crore passengers. The state government has also indicated that the expansion of Terminal 5 at Meenambakkam will be pursued in coordination with the Airports Authority of India.

The Parandur project had already seen significant land acquisition activity under the previous government. More than 2,500 acres of the approximately 5,746 acres required for the project had reportedly been acquired, with compensation offered above prevailing market rates.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions from industry and aviation observers. Some see the withdrawal as a setback for Tamil Nadu’s airport infrastructure expansion, while others argue that avoiding environmentally sensitive areas and densely populated settlements should remain a priority when selecting a new location.

For Chennai, the key challenge now will be finding an alternative site without repeating the prolonged land acquisition and approval issues associated with Parandur. The speed of the government’s next feasibility study and the identification of a viable location will therefore be closely watched by the infrastructure and aviation sectors.