1 week ago
Vijay Scraps Parandur Airport, Seeks Alternative Chennai Site
Tamil Nadu planned to build a very large second airport for Chennai near Parandur.
People in Parandur and nearby villages protested because they feared losing farms, homes and water sources.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said he supports the protesters and will stop the Parandur plan.
He said Chennai still needs another airport for passengers, factories and cargo.
Officials will look for another place that affects fewer farms and families.
The existing airport at Meenambakkam will also be expanded with another terminal.
The opposition DMK says Parandur was carefully studied and is the best place for the airport.
It warns that cancelling the project could hurt Tamil Nadu’s economy and push industries toward Andhra Pradesh.
The government has not yet chosen a new site.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced that his government would abandon the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project.
Vijay backed protesters who cited threats to farmland, wetlands, water bodies, homes and livelihoods in Parandur and nearby villages.
The government said Chennai still needs a second airport and will study alternative sites around Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram.
Meenambakkam airport is planned for expansion, including a fifth terminal, while no replacement site has been finalized.
The opposition DMK said cancelling Parandur could cause economic damage, waste technical planning and encourage industries to move toward Andhra Pradesh.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government announced the cancellation; Parandur residents and farmers supported it, while the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam criticized the decision.
- What
- The government scrapped steps to establish the proposed Parandur International Greenfield Airport and began considering alternative arrangements for Chennai’s second airport.
- Where
- Parandur and surrounding villages in Kancheepuram district, roughly 60–70 kilometres from Chennai; possible replacement areas include Chengalpattu and other parts of Kancheepuram.
- When
- The announcement was made on a Monday, identified in one report as August 24; Vijay had opposed the project in October 2024 and met protesting villagers in January 2025.
- Why
- Vijay cited risks to agricultural land, water bodies, homes and local livelihoods, while the DMK argued that cancellation could damage economic growth and industrial investment.
TVK Government and Protesters
DMK Opposition
Whether Parandur is suitable
TVK Government and Protesters
Vijay and protesting residents said Parandur should not host the airport because the project could damage farmland, water bodies, residential areas and local livelihoods.
DMK Opposition
The DMK said Parandur was selected after multiple sites and runway configurations were studied and remains the most suitable location for Chennai’s second airport.
Environmental protection versus development
TVK Government and Protesters
The government and activists argued that fertile agricultural land, wetlands, canals and village livelihoods should be protected, while accepting the need for additional airport capacity.
DMK Opposition
The DMK argued that cancelling a major airport could weaken Tamil Nadu’s connectivity, industrial expansion and ability to attract investment.
Economic and land-acquisition consequences
TVK Government and Protesters
The TVK government said it would seek a less damaging alternative, expand Meenambakkam and use expert studies to identify a new location; the future of already acquired land remains undecided.
DMK Opposition
DMK leaders said compensation had been paid for some acquired land and warned that industries could move toward Andhra Pradesh if the project was abandoned.
Assembly procedure
TVK Government and Protesters
The government announced the decision under Rule 110, under which the statement was not opened to debate.
DMK Opposition
The DMK said it was denied an opportunity to discuss the decision, staged a walkout and threatened further legislative action over the handling of project files.
Key facts
- Project
- Proposed second airport for Chennai, formally described as the Parandur International Greenfield Airport.
- Government decision
- Tamil Nadu said steps to establish the airport at Parandur would be abandoned and further land acquisition was halted.
- Planned capacity
- The proposed airport was described as having dual runways, three terminals and an ultimate capacity of up to 100 million passengers annually.
- Estimated cost
- Reports gave estimates ranging from about Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 27,400 crore; other reports cited approximately Rs 27,000 crore.
- Proposed land
- Reports cited approximately 5,000–5,746 acres across about 13–20 villages; one account said 47.6% was irrigated agricultural land and 25% consisted of water bodies.
- Land acquired
- Reports said approximately 1,700 acres of private land had been acquired, although the dates cited for that figure differed.
- Existing airport
- Meenambakkam airport was described as having current annual capacity of 30 million passengers; proposed expansions could raise capacity to 55 million after a fifth terminal, according to one report.
- Replacement site
- No final alternative has been selected; officials are expected to conduct technical studies of possible locations around Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram.
Quotes
Thangam Thennarasu
Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK legislator
“I know how important an airport's role is for industrial growth, and I even support that. But an airport in Parandur is simply not acceptable. We had asked the previous government to reconsider this project. Now, after detailed discussions with officials, and as per the promise I made to you, our government is dropping the Parandur airport plan.”
NDTV
“If the chief minister doesn't open our files, we will move a privilege motion against him in the assembly. We are giving him permission to open it. If he doesn't do that in one week, the Opposition will consider moving a privilege motion to show the chief minister gave incorrect information in the assembly.”
NDTV
TRB Raja
Former Tamil Nadu Industries Minister and DMK leader
“Years of hard work and intense planning to give Chennai the dual-runway Greenfield airport it desperately needs have been sacrificed at the altar of politics. Industry experts understand the stakes. Investment promotion agencies in neighbouring states will now quietly rejoice, saying: ‘Tamil Nadu has shot itself in the foot’”
theprint.in
Sources
Parandur Airport battle erupts in Tamil Nadu: Vijay backs farmers, halts project push; DMK warns of economic blow
Vijay govt scraps predecessor DMK’s Parandur airport project to ‘safeguard villages, livelihoods’
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay scraps Rs 20,000-crore Chennai’s 2nd airport project at Parandur: Here's why
Parandur airport scrapped: CM Vijay to look for different location for Chennai's 2nd airport
Why Tamil Nadu CM Vijay dropped proposed airport at Parandur? What's new site now?
‘I stand with protesters’: CM Vijay scraps Parandur airport plan, seeks alternative site
Tamil Nadu Drops Parandur Airport Project, Vijay Says "I Stand With Protesters"
Explained: Why Tamil Nadu Dropped 2nd Airport Near Chennai At Parandur
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