Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday announced in the state Assembly that the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, near Chennai, would be dropped. The government will instead identify an alternative location for Chennai’s second airport.
The decision comes after years of opposition from farmers and residents in Parandur and surrounding villages. Vijay said the proposed project would have a significant impact on agricultural land, residential areas and the livelihoods of local communities.
Alternative Site to Be Identified
While announcing the cancellation, Vijay made it clear that Tamil Nadu still needs a second airport for Chennai because of rising passenger traffic, industrial expansion and increasing cargo movement.
The government will therefore examine alternative locations that can accommodate the airport while causing significantly less disruption to agricultural land and residential areas. Technical feasibility, aviation safety and other requirements will also be considered before selecting the new site.
Chennai Airport Expansion Also Planned
The state government is also planning to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam. A fifth terminal is proposed as part of the expansion, with the aim of increasing the airport’s capacity significantly.
The existing airport currently handles around 30 million passengers annually. With Terminal 3 becoming operational, capacity is expected to rise to about 34 million, while the proposed fifth terminal could eventually take the total capacity to around 55 million passengers a year.
Political Debate Over the Decision
The decision to abandon Parandur has already triggered political criticism. Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described the move as a major setback for Tamil Nadu’s development, while other opposition voices warned that delaying the second airport could affect the state’s industrial and economic growth.
Industry representatives have also stressed the need for Tamil Nadu to quickly finalize an alternative site, given Chennai’s importance as a manufacturing, logistics and services hub.
The Tamil Nadu government’s next challenge will be to identify a suitable alternative site and move forward with Chennai’s second airport without repeating the land and livelihood concerns that surrounded the Parandur proposal.
