Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday announced in the state Assembly that his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government is dropping the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, which was planned as Chennai’s second airport. The decision comes after years of sustained protests by local farmers and residents over loss of agricultural land, livelihoods, and impact on water bodies.
“We are dropping Parandur airport. I stand firm with the protesters against the proposed airport,” Vijay said. He recalled his earlier opposition, noting that he had visited the protest site at Ekanapuram and surrounding villages on January 20, 2025, and had publicly opposed the project as early as October 2024 in Vikravandi. “To fulfill the promise I made to the people that day… the steps taken to establish a new airport in Parandur will be abandoned by this government,” he added.
The project, estimated at around ₹27,400 crore and spanning several thousand acres across multiple villages, was initiated by the previous DMK government in 2022. The Civil Aviation Ministry had granted in-principle approval in April 2025. Protesters, led by residents of Ekanapuram and nearby areas, had maintained an agitation for over 1,100 days, citing the threat to fertile multi-crop farmland, displacement of families, and damage to wetlands and water bodies that also play a role in flood management for Chennai.
Vijay acknowledged the need for expanded aviation capacity, stating that Chennai’s existing Meenambakkam airport currently handles about 30 million passengers annually and that a new facility is required for industrial growth and cargo. However, he stressed that any alternative must minimise impact on farmers and local communities. “A few places have been zeroed in,” he said, adding that detailed plans would follow thorough analysis of shortlisted sites. The government has also indicated interest in expanding the existing airport and exploring other locations.
Ministers in the TVK government had earlier signalled the shift, with Energy and Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar stating in June that the administration would not support a project affecting water bodies and fertile land while remaining open to a second airport elsewhere. Officials have pointed to issues such as large water bodies making portions of the land unsuitable for runways.
The announcement marks a key fulfilment of Vijay’s pre-election stance. He had positioned support for the Parandur protesters as one of his early field-level political actions after launching TVK. Local communities, including the Ekanapuram gram sabha, had earlier expressed gratitude, with some resolutions naming a village road after him. The Opposition DMK has criticised the move, defending the original site selection and questioning the impact on long term infrastructure needs.
