Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has scrapped the proposed Parandur airport project to protect fertile agricultural land and regional water bodies. The state is evaluating alternative sites, including Chengalpattu, while expanding the existing Meenambakkam airport to handle 55 million passengers annually.
CHENNAI — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, August 24, 2026, officially announced the cancellation of the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. Making the policy statement under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister stated that the state government is abandoning the project to safeguard fertile agricultural tracts, preserve critical water bodies, and prevent the displacement of local farming communities across 13 surrounding villages. The administration confirmed it is actively assessing alternative sites in Chengalpattu and adjacent districts to host Chennai's second international airport.
The announcement marks a major policy shift for Tamil Nadu’s aviation infrastructure strategy, balancing ecological preservation with the state’s long-term industrial and aviation expansion requirements.
Environmental Concerns and Farmer Resistance
The Parandur greenfield project, originally conceptualized in August 2022 to handle 100 million passengers annually across 5,746 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 27,400 crore, had faced sustained resistance from local villagers and environmental groups.
Explaining why Tamil Nadu CM Vijay dropped proposed airport at Parandur, the administration cited acute ecological risks and community displacement:
Hydrological Fragility: The Parandur site encompassed extensive wetlands, irrigation tanks, and natural drainage channels. Environmental scientists had warned that constructing runways over these water bodies could disrupt regional flood runoff systems, exacerbating severe flooding across the Chennai metropolitan area.
Livelihood Displacement: The land acquisition blueprint covered roughly 2,500 acres of multi-crop agricultural land and threatened the displacement of over 1,000 families across 13 agrarian villages, including Eganapuram.
Pre-Election Commitment: Chief Minister Vijay had visited the protesting villagers in January 2025, pledging that his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) administration would not proceed with the project if voted into office.
Alternative Locations and Site Selection Process
Addressing questions regarding what the new site will be, the Chief Minister confirmed that technical domain experts and state planning officials are currently conducting site suitability and feasibility studies across multiple potential corridors.
Chengalpattu Corridor: State planning departments have shortlisted alternative sites along non-agricultural stretches in Chengalpattu district, which offers expressway connectivity to the capital.
Industrial Synergy: The state is evaluating land parcels that minimize residential resettlement and reduce impact on fertile farmland.
Regional Decentralization: Alongside Chennai's replacement site, the government is accelerating technical planning for the proposed greenfield airport at Hosur to serve the regional electronics and automotive manufacturing clusters.
Interim Expansion at Chennai Meenambakkam Airport
To manage immediate passenger traffic growth while alternative greenfield locations undergo technical evaluation, the state announced an accelerated upgrade of the existing Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam.
| Development Phase | Target Operational Capacity | Infrastructure Scope |
| Current Baseline | 30 Million Passengers/Year | Terminals 1, 2, and 4 |
| Terminal 3 Completion | 35 Million Passengers/Year | Multi-level domestic & international integration |
| Terminal 5 Expansion | 55 Million Passengers/Year | New passenger terminal, flyovers, and arterial access roads |
The Chief Minister assured lawmakers that expanding Meenambakkam's handling capacity to 55 million passengers annually will meet aviation demand over the medium term while site approvals and construction for the second airport proceed.
Official Sources Section
Policy declarations, legislative statements, and infrastructure plans are sourced from the official proceedings of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, ministerial updates released by the Government of Tamil Nadu Information & Public Relations Desk, and project clearance records from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Statements and Legislative Reaction
In his official address to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay detailed the rationale behind the decision:
"I know how important an airport's role is for industrial growth, and I support development. But an airport in Parandur is simply not acceptable. The government will select an alternative site that minimises damage to agricultural land and does not affect people's livelihoods. A few suitable alternative sites have been selected, and technical feasibility studies will be completed before finalising the location."
Following the announcement, lawmakers from the principal opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a walkout after the Speaker disallowed an immediate attention motion debate. Opposition leaders argued that altering the site could delay Chennai's second airport timeline, while community leaders in Parandur celebrated the move as a major victory for local agrarian livelihoods.
Why It Matters
For Farmers and Agrarian Communities: Prevents the loss of productive paddy farmland and protects 13 villages from displacement.
For Air Travelers and Aviation Hubs: Focuses short-term capital expenditure on upgrading Meenambakkam Airport to handle 55 million annual passengers.
For Industrial Investors and Logistics: Ensures continued state commitment to build a second greenfield airport in the Chennai region while expanding Hosur's aviation links.
Key Facts at a Glance
Project Status: Proposed Rs 20,000–27,400 crore Parandur greenfield airport officially scrapped.
Primary Reason: Protection of agrarian livelihoods, agricultural lands, and hydrological drainage systems.
New Site Alternatives: Feasibility studies underway for alternate locations, including parcels in Chengalpattu district.
Interim Capacity Solution: Meenambakkam airport expansion to increase annual handling capacity from 30 million to 55 million passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tamil Nadu CM Vijay drop the proposed airport at Parandur?
The project was dropped to protect fertile agricultural lands, safeguard natural water bodies from flood risk, and prevent the displacement of over 1,000 farming families across 13 villages.
What is the new site for Chennai's second airport?
The state government is evaluating alternative locations with minimal agricultural footprint, including potential sites in Chengalpattu district, subject to technical feasibility studies.
How will Chennai manage passenger growth without the Parandur airport?
The existing Meenambakkam airport will be expanded through Terminal 3 and a new Terminal 5 to raise its total handling capacity to 55 million passengers annually.
What was the original capacity planned for the Parandur airport?
The initial greenfield proposal aimed to handle 100 million passengers annually across 5,746 acres in Kancheepuram district.
Source: Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India
