Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Stalin Condemns Vijay’s Decision to Drop Parandur Airport
Tamil Nadu had planned to build a very large new airport at Parandur near Chennai.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the project would be stopped.
He said this would protect farms, lakes, canals and the livelihoods of nearby villagers.
Farmers and environmental activists had protested the airport plan.
Former Chief Minister M K Stalin strongly disagreed with the decision.
He said stopping the project could hurt investment, jobs and Tamil Nadu’s future growth.
Stalin also criticized the government for announcing the decision under a rule that did not allow Assembly debate.
The government says it will look for another airport location and expand Chennai’s current airport.
The proposed Parandur airport was designed to eventually handle up to 100 million passengers each year.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced that Tamil Nadu would abandon the proposed Parandur greenfield airport.
Vijay said the decision would protect agricultural land and the livelihoods of Parandur and 12 surrounding villages.
M K Stalin called the cancellation an “irreversible setback” that could delay Tamil Nadu’s development by several years.
Stalin said the project’s land acquisition, approvals and preparatory work were substantially complete; another account described acquisition as almost complete.
The government plans to identify an alternative airport site and expand Chennai’s existing airport while addressing the state’s aviation needs.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the cancellation; DMK president M K Stalin criticized it, and DMK legislators protested in the Assembly.
- What
- The government abandoned the proposed Parandur greenfield airport and said it would pursue an alternative site and expand Chennai’s existing airport.
- When
- The cancellation was announced on Monday; the project was announced in 2022 and received in-principle approval in April 2025.
- Where
- The proposed airport site was at Parandur in Kancheepuram near Chennai, covering Parandur and 12 surrounding villages.
- Why
- Vijay cited the protection of agricultural land and local livelihoods, while Stalin said the decision would damage development, investment and employment prospects.
Government and Project Critics
DMK and Project Supporters
Environmental protection versus infrastructure growth
Government and Project Critics
Vijay said abandoning the project would protect agricultural land, water bodies and the livelihoods of residents in Parandur and nearby villages.
DMK and Project Supporters
Stalin said Chennai needs a world-class airport and that dropping the project would set Tamil Nadu’s development back by several years.
Project readiness
Government and Project Critics
The government intends to begin planning for an airport at an alternative site and expand the existing Chennai airport.
DMK and Project Supporters
Stalin said the Parandur site had been selected after alternatives were evaluated, with land acquisition, approvals and preparatory work substantially completed.
Decision-making process
Government and Project Critics
The government announced the cancellation in the Assembly under Rule No. 110 while presenting it as a decision to protect affected communities.
DMK and Project Supporters
Stalin and DMK legislators criticized the lack of debate, and DMK MLAs walked out after the Speaker denied permission to discuss the announcement.
- Project
- Parandur greenfield airport
- Estimated cost
- Rs 27,000 crore
- Planned land area
- 5,369 acres
- Agricultural land
- One account said 47.6% of the proposed area was fertile, irrigated land yielding three crops annually.
- Environmental concerns
- About one-quarter of the proposed area was described as lakes, canals and other water bodies.
- Planned capacity
- Up to 100 million passengers annually at ultimate capacity
- Government alternatives
- A new airport at another site and immediate expansion of Chennai’s existing airport
