The Tamil Nadu government has decided not to proceed with the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur near Chennai and will instead explore alternative locations for the city's second airport. State Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said the government remained committed to improving aviation infrastructure but would not support a project that threatened fertile agricultural land, water bodies and local livelihoods. The announcement marks a major policy reversal for a project that had been under development since 2022 and faced sustained opposition from residents and farmers.
"We are not against development, but development must be sustainable and should not destroy lakes, water resources or local communities," Nirmal Kumar told reporters. "We will explore alternative sites for the project." He said officials and experts had been tasked with identifying suitable locations that would meet Chennai's future aviation needs while minimizing environmental and social impacts. The minister stressed that the government was not opposed to a second airport for Chennai but was against the Parandur site itself.
The proposed airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district was planned across nearly 5,750 acres and was expected to serve as a major aviation hub for the Chennai metropolitan region. However, the project encountered strong resistance from villagers, environmental groups and farmer organizations, who argued that it would lead to the loss of multi-crop farmland, wetlands and water bodies while displacing thousands of residents. Land acquisition efforts had also triggered prolonged protests in the region.
Nirmal Kumar noted that Chief Minister Vijay's first major political protest was against the Parandur airport proposal, reflecting the ruling government's long-standing position on the issue. "Our stand remains unchanged. However, we are not opposed to development or to a second airport for Chennai," he said. The government is expected to undertake a comprehensive review before selecting an alternative site, with a final decision to be taken after consultations with experts and approval from the chief minister.
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