Vijay-govt scraps Parandur airport project, says land unsuitable for project

The Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has decided not to proceed with the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur near Chennai, citing concerns that a significant portion of the acquired land is unsuitable for runway construction due to the presence of extensive water bodies. The government has said it will identify an alternative location for Chennai's second airport.

The proposed 4,970-acre airport project had witnessed relentless protests since its announcement in 2022, with local farmers and environmental activists opposing the large-scale displacement of families and the destruction of wetlands in the region.

Explaining the government's decision, Industries Minister Nirmal Kumar said a substantial portion of the land earmarked for the project was unsuitable for airport infrastructure.

"Around 800 to 900 acres consisted of water bodies. The land was not suitable for runway construction as it was more like a water body," the minister said.

The decision places Chief Minister Vijay in a delicate position between honouring his promise to villagers opposing the project and addressing Chennai's growing need for expanded aviation infrastructure to sustain economic growth and future investments. Chennai's existing airport is expected to reach saturation by 2035.

The Parandur airport project, which was advanced by the previous DMK government, had faced sustained opposition from residents of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages over concerns related to land acquisition, displacement and environmental impact. During the election campaign, Vijay had assured villagers that their homes and farmlands would not be acquired for the project.

Nirmal Kumar said the government would begin identifying an alternative site in and around Chennai for the proposed airport, while stressing that environmental considerations would take precedence in the decision-making process.

The move has also created uncertainty for residents whose lands had already been acquired by the state-owned Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) under the previous administration. With the government now ruling out the airport project at Parandur, questions remain over the future use of the acquired land and whether affected landowners will receive any relief or restoration measures.

The opposition DMK strongly criticised the decision, accusing the TVK government of abandoning a strategically important infrastructure project. DMK spokesperson A. Saravanan said Parandur had been selected only after extensive studies and evaluation of multiple potential locations.

"This airport is very essential. We didn't choose Parandur blindly. It is the best site for the airport. Development has to come at a certain cost. TVK is preventing it because of its ego and because of the protest," Saravanan said.

The decision to scrap the Parandur airport plan is likely to reignite debate over balancing infrastructure development with environmental protection and local concerns. While the government has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a second airport for Chennai, it remains unclear where an alternative site will be identified and how quickly the project can be taken forward.

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