Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Monday announced that his government would abandon the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, citing concerns over agricultural land and the livelihoods of farmers and residents. The decision, made in a statement under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, fulfills a promise Vijay made during the election campaign, as reported by multiple news outlets including ANI and The Economic Times.

Rationale and Alternative Plans

Vijay said Chennai needs a new airport given the city's growing requirements, industrial development, and increasing cargo transportation, but emphasized that the new airport should be located where agricultural land and residential areas are minimally affected. He recalled his visit to Eganapuram and other villages on January 20, 2025, where he listened to grievances of protesters, and noted his opposition to the project at a public meeting in Vikravandi in October 2024.

"I stand firmly with the people protesting against the airport to be established in Chennai's Parandur and 12 surrounding villages," Vijay said, as quoted by ANI and other outlets. He described farmers as the backbone of the country.

The Chief Minister said detailed consultations were held with senior officials and experts, and alternative locations have been identified through technical studies. He assured that the new site will be finalized after technical feasibility studies, with the goal of minimizing impact on farmland and habitations.

Existing Airport Expansion

To address immediate capacity needs, Vijay announced plans to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam. The airport currently handles about 30 million passengers annually. With Terminal 3 under construction, capacity is expected to rise to 34 or 35 million passengers per year, depending on the source. A new Terminal 5, developed with the Airports Authority of India, will add another 20 million passengers annually, bringing total capacity to about 55 million, as reported by Hindustan Times and The Indian Express.

DMK and Political Reactions

The decision drew sharp criticism from the opposition. DMK MLA and former minister Thangam Thennarasu said dropping the project for political reasons would cause economic damage and could push industries towards Andhra Pradesh. He noted that all possibilities, including two runways, were studied before Parandur was selected, and that compensation had already been paid to landowners. "As per the Land Acquisition Act, the land acquired should be used only for the purpose for which it was acquired," he said, as quoted by ANI and ThePrint.

DMK members staged a walkout from the Assembly after Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar disallowed a debate under Rule 110. The party also challenged the Chief Minister, with DMK leader Duraimurugan threatening a privilege motion if Vijay did not "open our files," according to NewsBytes.

BJP State unit president Nainar Nagenthran criticized the decision, questioning why the government abandoned the project without identifying an alternative site or approaching the Centre. He raised concerns about the fate of around 1,700 acres already acquired and the waste of resources, as reported by The Hindu. BJP state spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy also slammed the decision, calling it "immaturity and incompetence" and "dirty and silly politics," according to Lokmat Times.

Industry and Passenger Concerns

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called for strengthening Chennai Airport and fast-tracking an alternative greenfield airport, stating that an airport is a strategic enabler of economic growth. CII chairman for the Southern Region, Ravichandran Purushothaman, emphasized the need for a time-bound aviation strategy, as reported by The Tribune and The Hindu.

Air passengers expressed disappointment, with frequent flyer Dheeraj S. noting that the Chennai airport experience was underwhelming compared to Bengaluru or Hyderabad, and lacking direct connectivity to many international destinations. Another frequent flyer, Sathish G., called the decision a setback and questioned how long the city would wait for a second airport, as reported by The Hindu. J. Krishnan of S Natesa Iyer Logistics termed the decision a severe setback, while aviation safety consultant Mohan Ranganathan supported the abandonment, saying Parandur could be a disaster for floods, according to The Hindu BusinessLine.

Project Background

The Parandur airport project, proposed on 5,746 acres in Kancheepuram district, had been in planning since 1999, with the site finalized by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry in 2022. The project had received in-principle approval in April 2025 and was designated a special project under the Land Consolidation Act in March 2026. However, it faced sustained protests from local farmers and residents since August 2022, concerned about fertile land, water bodies, and displacement of nearly 1,000 families.

Perspectives

  • Tamil Nadu Government (TVK): The decision abandons the Parandur project to protect agricultural land, water bodies, and livelihoods, fulfilling a pre-election promise. The government will expand Chennai airport and select an alternative site through technical feasibility studies.
  • DMK Opposition: Dropping the project for political reasons causes economic damage, risks industries moving to Andhra Pradesh, and ignores completed land acquisition and feasibility studies. The party also protested the denial of debate in the Assembly.
  • BJP in Tamil Nadu: The decision reflects immaturity and political motives, wastes years of work and resources, and lacks a clear plan for an alternative site or the use of acquired land.
  • CII and Industry: A second airport is critical for Chennai's long-term economic growth; the existing airport must be strengthened while a new site is fast-tracked.
  • Air Passengers: The scrapping is a setback, delaying improved connectivity and infrastructure, and risking economic and employment opportunities.