Union Minister of State L. Murugan on Monday called on the Tamil Nadu government to reverse its decision to scrap the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur, cautioning that abandoning the project risks setting back Chennai's aviation capacity and broader infrastructure pipeline for years. The appeal comes days after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced in the state Assembly that the project would be dropped.

Scale of the Abandoned Project

The Parandur airport, located in Kancheepuram district, had been planned across nearly 5,746 acres at an estimated cost of ₹27,400 crore. According to reports, more than 1,700 acres of land had already been acquired before the state government's reversal. The site was identified after clearing multiple administrative and procedural hurdles over several years, making the decision to walk away particularly consequential, Murugan argued.

Political Undercurrents

Murugan alleged that the cancellation appeared to be politically motivated rather than driven by planning or technical grounds. He pointed out that Chief Minister Vijay, ahead of the Assembly election, had visited Parandur and publicly promised local residents that the airport project would be cancelled if the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) came to power. Critics argue the government has not offered a detailed policy rationale for the withdrawal beyond that electoral commitment.

Unanswered Questions on Land and Compensation

Murugan raised pointed questions about the fate of land already acquired and compensation already disbursed to displaced landowners. He sought clarity on whether the government had a plan to utilise the acquired acreage and when an alternative airport site might be identified. Locating a new site, conducting environmental and technical assessments, and securing all necessary clearances could push Chennai's second airport back by several years, he warned.

Risk of Falling Behind Bengaluru and Hyderabad

With new airports operational or under development in several Indian cities, Murugan cautioned that Chennai risks losing ground to Bengaluru and Hyderabad as passenger volumes at Chennai International Airport continue to rise against constrained infrastructure. He also flagged that the Parandur project was not a standalone undertaking — plans had been drawn up to extend the Metro network beyond Poonamallee towards Parandur, and the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway had been aligned to feed into the airport. Scrapping the airport, he argued, could strand investments already committed to these feeder projects.

What Murugan Is Asking For

Murugan appealed to the TVK government to set aside political considerations and prioritise the state's long-term economic interests. He called on Chief Minister Vijay to withdraw the cancellation, formally revive the Parandur airport project, and ensure construction is taken up without further delay. The uncertainty, he said, could undermine investor confidence and adversely affect the region's transport, trade, and economic trajectory.