Vijay govt scraps Parandur airport project, to find alternative site
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has formally buried the Parandur greenfield airport — a project that sparked years of farmer protests — and ordered a fresh site search. With Chennai's existing airport set to expand to 55 million passenger capacity, the move resets a long-running infrastructure battle but leaves the question of where Chennai's second airport will actually come up entirely unanswered.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay announced on 24 August that the Parandur greenfield airport project has been formally abandoned.
The decision follows sustained protests by farmers and residents over land acquisition and displacement concerns.
Vijay had personally visited affected villages in Ekanapuram on 20 January 2025 and opposed the project publicly at Vikravandi in October 2024 .
The existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam currently handles 30 million passengers annually ; Terminal 3 will raise this to 35 million .
A proposed Terminal 5 could add another 20 million , taking total capacity to 55 million annually .
Technical feasibility studies for an alternative second-airport site will now be commissioned; no timeline has been announced.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, 24 August announced that the state government would scrap the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur and launch a fresh search for an alternative site that causes minimal disruption to farmers and local residents. The announcement was made in a statement on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Why the Project Was Dropped
CM Vijay cited the project's potential harm to agricultural lands, waterbodies, and residential settlements in Parandur and surrounding villages as the primary reasons for abandonment. He maintained that large-scale infrastructure development should not come at the cost of farmers' livelihoods or trigger mass displacement of residents.
The Chief Minister recalled personally visiting Ekanapuram and nearby villages on 20 January 2025 to meet communities protesting against land acquisition for the project. He also noted that he had publicly opposed the Parandur site during a meeting at Vikravandi in October 2024, well before his government took office. Vijay accused the previous administration of pushing ahead with the project despite sustained and organised opposition from affected residents.
The Case for a Second Airport
CM Vijay acknowledged that Chennai needs a second airport, pointing to the city's rapid metropolitan expansion, rising passenger volumes, and growing cargo demand. The existing Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), currently handles approximately 30 million passengers annually — a figure that analysts say will be outpaced by demand within the decade.
The government, he said, arrived at its decision after consulting senior officials, aviation specialists, academicians, and other domain experts. Technical feasibility studies will now be conducted at alternative locations before a new site is finalised.
'As promised, the measures initiated to establish the new airport at Parandur will be abandoned by this government,' Vijay told the Assembly.
Meenambakkam Expansion as Interim Relief
In parallel, the state government will coordinate with the AAI to expand the existing Meenambakkam airport. A new Terminal 5 has been proposed in the airport's northwestern section, along with additional roads and flyovers to improve surface connectivity.
The under-construction Terminal 3 is expected to raise annual passenger-handling capacity to 35 million. Once Terminal 5 becomes operational, it could add another 20 million passengers, taking total capacity to 55 million annually.
CM Vijay said these expansions would help Chennai manage its growing aviation requirements until a permanent second airport becomes operational at a suitable alternative location.
What Comes Next
The government has not yet indicated a timeline for identifying or finalising the alternative site. Technical feasibility studies are the immediate next step, with site selection expected to follow expert evaluation. The expansion of Meenambakkam will serve as a bridging measure in the interim, though questions remain about how quickly Terminal 3 construction will be completed and when Terminal 5 planning will translate into ground-level work.
Point of View
The optics were bad, and the previous administration had already handed him a ready villain. But abandoning a site without announcing a credible alternative is only half a decision. Chennai's aviation demand is not hypothetical: the city will outgrow even a 55-million-capacity Meenambakkam within a foreseeable horizon. The harder question — where exactly does the second airport go, and who bears the land-acquisition cost there — has been deferred, not resolved. The risk is that the cycle of protest, cancellation, and restart simply repeats at the next site.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Tamil Nadu government scrap the Parandur airport project?
The Vijay government cited the project's adverse impact on agricultural lands, waterbodies, and residential settlements in Parandur and nearby villages. CM Vijay argued that infrastructure development should not displace farmers or destroy livelihoods, and he had publicly opposed the site since October 2024.
Will Chennai get a second airport?
Yes, the Tamil Nadu government has reaffirmed the need for a second airport given the city's growth and rising passenger demand, but a new site has not yet been identified. Technical feasibility studies at alternative locations will be conducted before a site is finalised.
What is the current capacity of Chennai's Meenambakkam airport?
The Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam currently handles approximately 30 million passengers annually. The under-construction Terminal 3 is expected to raise this to 35 million, and a proposed Terminal 5 could add another 20 million, taking total capacity to 55 million.
What was the Parandur airport project?
The Parandur greenfield airport was a proposed second international airport for Chennai, located at Parandur. It faced sustained opposition from farmers and residents who protested against land acquisition and large-scale displacement, ultimately leading the Vijay government to formally abandon it.
What happens to Meenambakkam airport in the meantime?
The state government will work with the Airports Authority of India to expand Meenambakkam airport through Terminal 3 construction and a proposed Terminal 5, along with new roads and flyovers. These expansions are intended to manage Chennai's aviation demand until a permanent second airport site is identified and built.
