Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the abandonment of the proposed ₹27,000‑crore greenfield airport at Parandur, honoring a 2025 pledge to villagers. While easing social‑environmental concerns, the decision opens a fresh planning challenge for a second Chennai airport.

  • Parandur airport planned on 5,746 acres in Kanchipuram
  • Local farmer opposition cited as primary reason for cancellation
  • Existing Chennai airport to gain a new Terminal 5 for 20 million extra passengers

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay told the state Assembly on Monday that his government will abandon the ₹27,000‑crore greenfield airport project at Parandur. The announcement fulfills a promise he made in January 2025 while touring Ekanapuram, where he sided with villagers against land acquisition.

Historical Background

The Parandur project was first floated in 2019 to address Chennai’s growing air‑traffic demand. The proposed site covered 5,746 acres in Kanchipuram district, but farmers from Ekanapuram and nearby villages began resisting the acquisition in 2022, fearing displacement of 605 homes and 900 acres of farmland.

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Vijay, founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, used the protest as his political debut, pledging that the airport would never be built on farmers’ land. The promise became a cornerstone of his early political identity, distinguishing his stance on development from his celebrity background.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that abandoning the Parandur site resolves a long‑standing socio‑environmental conflict but creates a planning vacuum. The state now faces the dual task of identifying a new, less disruptive location while simultaneously upgrading existing infrastructure to meet immediate demand.

"Scrapping Parandur is a win for farmers, but the hunt for a viable alternative will test Tamil Nadu’s planning capacity," says urban‑policy analyst Dr. Ananya Rao.

Vijay affirmed that after “detailed consultations with senior officials and experts,” the government has shortlisted “a few suitable alternative locations” that avoid large‑scale displacement. Technical feasibility studies will begin shortly, with a final site to be announced later this year.

In the interim, the existing Chennai airport will be expanded. Working with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the state will construct a new Terminal 5 in the north‑west section of Meenambakkam, capable of handling an additional 20 million passengers annually. Once the ongoing Terminal 3 upgrades are completed, total capacity will rise from the current 30 million to 35 million passengers, and eventually to 55 million once Terminal 5 is operational.

Did You Know?: The previous administration had already acquired about 1,700 acres of the required land, with another 1,500 acres owned by the government.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where will the new airport be built?

A: The government has not yet disclosed the final location, but officials say it will avoid agricultural land and residential settlements.

Q: How will the Chennai airport expansion affect passengers?

A: Terminal 5 will boost the airport’s annual capacity to 55 million passengers, reducing congestion and improving service quality.