Tamil Nadu CM Vijay speaking in the Assembly ANI @CMOTamilnadu X/ANI Photo
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The newly formed government under Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) faces a key decision on whether to press ahead with the greenfield airport project at Parandur or risk Chennai missing out on a much-needed second airport.The question is weighing heavily on the minds of passengers, industry and investors alike, especially after TVK leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay initially backed villagers and farmers opposing the project over concerns about livelihood loss.As reports emerged that Chief Minister Vijay had held a review meeting on the Parandur airport project, multiple government sources denied to businessline that any such consultation had taken place.However, with S Keerthana appointed as the new Industries minister and officers of the Industries and Investment Promotion department all now in place, all eyes are now on the decision around Parandur.Sources in the know also point out that in the past, Vijay has just been against the specific Parandur site in question, and not against the idea of a second airport.One of the final Gazette notifications issued by the previous DMK government declared the Parandur New Greenfield Airport Project a “Special Project” under the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation (for Special Projects) Act, 2023. The notification was published on March 2, just days before the Model Code of Conduct came into force.However, government sources said there is no legal restriction preventing the new administration from discontinuing the project despite its Special Project status.Industry representatives warn that scrapping the airport project would be a major setback for Chennai.“We have already lost ground to Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports. Chennai needs the Parandur airport to support industry and passengers,” said an official from a leading automobile company in Sriperumbudur.The previous DMK government had accelerated land acquisition, securing more than 2,500 acres out of the 5,746 acres required for the proposed airport in Kancheepuram district, with compensation significantly above market rates.The existing Chennai airport currently handles more than 2.2 crore passengers annually. Once the ongoing modernisation works end, capacity is expected to rise to 3.5 crore passengers a year, sufficient for only the next seven years- roughly the timeline by which the Parandur airport is expected to be operational.The proposed Parandur airport is designed to handle up to 10 crore passengers annually and will include two runways, terminal buildings, taxiways, an apron and a cargo terminal.Residents of Parandur, however, remain hopeful that the project will eventually be shelved.Meanwhile, when industrialists met Chief Minister Vijay recently, the issue of the Parandur airport was not discussed. However, they urged him to focus on infrastructure development.“One of the best meetings we ever had, spent nearly 45 minutes. CM’s willingness to hear is a great pleasure and his leadership is a visionary one,” M Ponnuswami, Managing Director, Pon Pure Chemicals Group, and Co-Chair of CII MSME National Council & National Task Force on EoDB, said on X.Vijay requested the CII delegation to give their suggestions in writing so that action could be taken.Published on May 17, 2026
