Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu Parties Oppose Proposed Chennai Airport Operator Change
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay reportedly wrote to India’s Prime Minister about changing who manages Chennai airport.
He reportedly wanted the Airport Authority of India to be replaced by another agency.
Several political parties criticized this request.
They worry that changing the manager could lead to the airport being privatized.
They said the airport belongs to the country’s public infrastructure.
They also said it is important for travel, business, tourism and moving goods.
The parties said problems with passengers, flights, cargo and roads should be fixed.
They want the government to improve the airport while keeping direct public supervision.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay reportedly asked India’s Prime Minister to replace the Airport Authority of India at Chennai airport.
CPI State secretary M Veerapandian said changing the operator could lead to privatization.
The CPI said Chennai airport is public infrastructure supporting industry, trade, tourism and freight traffic.
CPM State secretary P Shanmugam urged Vijay to withdraw the reported letter.
Tamil Nadu Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan called for government-supervised improvements instead of privatization.
- Who
- Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, India’s Prime Minister, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Tamil Nadu Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan.
- What
- Vijay reportedly sought to replace the Airport Authority of India as the manager of Chennai airport, prompting criticism from Tamil Nadu political parties.
- When
- The articles do not specify when Vijay wrote the reported letter; the reactions followed news of the request.
- Where
- Chennai airport in Tamil Nadu; P Shanmugam discussed the matter at a protest in Pattinapakkam.
- Why
- Critics said replacing the Airport Authority of India could lead to privatization and argued that airport service and infrastructure problems should instead be addressed under government supervision.
Opposition To Privatization
Proposed Management Change
Who should manage the airport
Opposition To Privatization
The Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Tamil Nadu Vazhvurimai Katchi opposed privatizing airport administration and supported government supervision.
Proposed Management Change
C Joseph Vijay reportedly sought to remove the Airport Authority of India from Chennai airport management and appoint an alternative agency; the articles do not specify his detailed reasons or whether he explicitly endorsed privatization.
How airport problems should be addressed
Opposition To Privatization
Critics said privatization would not solve problems involving passenger services, flight operations, cargo handling and road connectivity. They called for the Tamil Nadu government to examine the problems with the Airport Authority of India and improve infrastructure with the Union government.
Proposed Management Change
The reported request indicates support for changing the managing agency, but the articles do not provide a detailed alternative improvement plan from Vijay.
- Airport
- Chennai airport
- Current operator
- Airport Authority of India
- Reported proposal
- Replace the Airport Authority of India with an alternative agency
- CPI representative
- M Veerapandian, State secretary of the Communist Party of India
- Main criticism
- Political parties said the change could lead to privatization
- Cited airport roles
- Supporting industry, trade, tourism and freight traffic in Tamil Nadu
- Requested improvements
- Passenger services, flight operations, cargo handling, road connectivity and other infrastructure
