Stand firmly with farmers: Vijay drops Parandur airport project amid opposition

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay said Tamil Nadu will abandon the Parandur airport project after hearing residents' objections. The state will now look for another site for Chennai's second airport with less impact on farmland and homes.He said an alternative location should be identified where the acquisition of agricultural land is minimised. (Credits: PTI)Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced that his government would abandon steps taken to establish a new airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, citing concerns over the impact of the proposed project on agricultural land, farmers and residential areas.Speaking in the state Assembly, Vijay said Chennai's existing Meenambakkam airport, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), currently has the capacity to handle around 30 million passengers annually.He said a second airport was necessary to meet the growing requirements of the Chennai metropolitan region, support industrial development and expand cargo transportation.However, Vijay said the location of the proposed airport should be selected in a manner that causes minimal disruption to agricultural land and residential settlements. VIJAY BACKS PARANDUR RESIDENTS' PROTESTVijay said the previous government had pursued the Parandur project despite its potential impact on farmers and several residential settlements.He recalled visiting Eganapuram and neighbouring villages on January 20, 2025, where residents had been protesting against the proposed airport. Vijay said he had met the protesters and listened to their concerns. “I stand firmly with the people protesting against the airport to be established in Chennai's Parandur and 12 surrounding villages,” he said.The Chief Minister described farmers as the backbone of the country and said he supported their efforts to protect agricultural land and livelihoods.Vijay also said he had opposed the Parandur airport project at a public meeting in Vikravandi in October 2024. While backing industrial development and acknowledging the role of airports in supporting economic growth, he maintained that Parandur was not an appropriate location for the proposed facility.K ANNAMALAI CRITICISES THE DECISIONK Annamalai criticised the Tamil Nadu government's decision to cancel the proposed Parandur airport project, saying the delay in identifying an alternative site for Chennai's second airport could set the state's development back by at least 10 years.In a post on X, he said the existing Chennai airport, with a capacity of 30 million passengers annually, is already inadequate and has infrastructure limitations compared with airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.Annamalai urged the state government to expedite the identification of an alternative site, warning that approvals, land acquisition, tenders and licencing could take years before a new airport becomes operational.He also questioned what the government plans to do with the 1,700 acres reportedly acquired for the Parandur project out of the 5,746 acres required.Today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru @TVKVijayHQ announced in the assembly that the TN Government has decided to cancel the Parandur Airport Project. TN CM mentioned that certain sites are under consideration, but it would have been helpful if he had also proposed a new site— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 24, 2026GOVT TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SITEVijay said the government had held detailed consultations with senior officials and experts regarding the proposed airport and had assessed the concerns surrounding the project.He said an alternative location should be identified where the acquisition of agricultural land is minimised and people's livelihoods and residential areas are not significantly affected.“To fulfil 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,” Vijay said.THE CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY APPROVED IT IN APRIL 2025The decision comes after the Civil Aviation Ministry granted in-principle approval in April 2025 for the establishment of an international greenfield airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district.The proposed airport had been envisioned as a major expansion of Chennai's aviation infrastructure amid rising passenger and cargo demand.Vijay's announcement marks a significant shift in the government's approach to the project, with the state now expected to explore alternative locations for Chennai's proposed second airport.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Aug 24, 2026 11:01 IST