CII Reiterates Need for Chennai’s Second Airport Amid Uncertainty Over Parandur Project

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has once again underlined the importance of establishing a second airport for Chennai, stating that enhanced aviation infrastructure is essential to support Tamil Nadu’s long-term economic growth and investment ambitions.

Speaking at his first press conference after taking charge as Chairman of CII Southern Region, P. Ravichandran, who is also President of Danfoss India, said Chennai requires a strong aviation gateway to remain competitive with other leading metropolitan cities in India. He noted that southern cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad already possess world-class airport infrastructure and emphasized that Tamil Nadu deserves similar global standards.

The remarks come amid uncertainty over the future of the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur. While acknowledging that the final decision rests with the Tamil Nadu government, Ravichandran said the industry body would respect whatever course of action the state chooses to pursue.

According to CII, a second airport is critical to supporting growing passenger traffic, cargo movement, international connectivity, and future industrial expansion. Chennai continues to attract investments across sectors including manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, logistics, information technology, and data centres. Industry leaders believe that improved aviation infrastructure will further strengthen the state’s position as a preferred investment destination.

Ravichandran also highlighted Tamil Nadu’s ambitious target of becoming a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. Achieving this goal would require sustained annual growth of 12 to 13 percent over the next decade. He said world-class infrastructure, including airports, ports, highways, industrial corridors, and logistics facilities, would play a crucial role in achieving this objective.

The CII delegation recently met Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to discuss Tamil Nadu’s growth roadmap and investment potential. The industry body has also recommended leveraging the Chief Minister’s strong public image to enhance the state’s branding and attract greater domestic and international investments.

As Chennai continues to evolve as a major economic hub, the debate over a second airport remains central to Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure and development agenda.