Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has announced the cancellation of the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project, fulfilling a major pre-election promise to villagers and environmental activists who had opposed the plan for years.
Vijay said he recognised the importance of aviation infrastructure for industrial growth but maintained that the Parandur site was unsuitable. He said his government would instead identify an alternative location while also expanding the existing Chennai airport.
Why the project faced opposition
The proposed airport was estimated to cost around ₹27,000 crore and was planned across about 5,369 acres covering nearly 20 villages in the Kancheepuram and Sriperumbudur regions.
Residents had protested the project for more than 1,000 days, arguing that the proposed land acquisition threatened homes, farming and livelihoods.
According to the project details cited in the source, around 47.6 per cent of the identified land was fertile, irrigated agricultural land, while about 25 per cent consisted of lakes, canals and other water bodies.
Farmers and environmental groups warned that construction on such land could damage natural water systems and worsen concerns around flooding.
Vijay stands with protesters
Vijay had visited protesting villagers in Kancheepuram in January 2025 and expressed opposition to the airport if its construction came at the cost of the environment.
With his government now cancelling the project, residents of Ekanapuram have reportedly adopted a resolution thanking him for supporting their position.
The decision has also triggered political tensions in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Opposition DMK MLAs staged a walkout after they were denied permission to debate the announcement.
Search for second airport begins again
Despite cancelling Parandur, the government has acknowledged Chennai’s growing need for additional aviation capacity.
The proposed airport was designed to eventually handle up to 100 million passengers annually. However, Chennai’s existing airport at Meenambakkam faces constraints related to space, runway expansion, parking capacity and peak-hour slots.
Vijay has now directed officials to identify an alternative site that minimises the acquisition of fertile agricultural land and protects homes and livelihoods.
Until a new location is identified, the government plans to focus on expanding the capacity of the existing Chennai airport.