Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay has cancelled the proposed Greenfield International Airport at Parandur, citing environmental concerns and protests. The move has been slammed by the opposition DMK and BJP but praised by alliance partner Congress.
A major political storm has erupted in Tamil Nadu following Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s announcement in the State Assembly under Rule 110 that his government is abandoning the proposed Greenfield International Airport at Parandur. Citing severe environmental concerns, threat to agricultural lands, and loss of local livelihoods, Vijay stated that the project would be relocated to an alternative site where impact on farms and residential settlements would be minimal. The decision has split the political spectrum down the middle, drawing sharp condemnation from the opposition DMK and BJP, while earning praise from alliance partners like the Congress.
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, CM Vijay emphasised that while a second airport is essential to meet Chennai’s long-term demands, industrial growth, and cargo requirements, it cannot come at the expense of local communities. The Chief Minister said he had visited Eganapuram and other villages on January 20, 2025, and heard the concerns of people protesting against the proposed airport at Parandur and 12 surrounding villages. “I stand firmly with the people protesting against the airport to be established in Chennai’s Parandur and 12 surrounding villages,” Vijay said.
The announcement comes months after the Civil Aviation Ministry granted in-principle approval in April 2025 for setting up an international Greenfield Airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district.
Opposition Slams Decision
The decision to drop the project has drawn criticism from the opposition, with DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin calling it an “irreversible setback” to Tamil Nadu’s growth. In a post on X, Stalin said, “Dropping Parandur is not Change. It’s an irreversible setback for Tamil Nadu’s growth. The announcement made today by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to drop the Parandur International Airport project will set the State’s development back by several years. Tamil Nadu’s interests cannot be mortgaged for petty political considerations.”
Stalin said an announcement of such far-reaching importance being made under Rule No. 110, shutting out any opportunity for debate, is deeply troubling. “An announcement of such far-reaching importance being made under Rule No. 110, shutting out any opportunity for debate or even for members to voice their views, is deeply troubling. Tamil Nadu leads the country across sectors, from electronics exports to automobiles. A world-class airport in its capital is not merely desirable, but absolutely essential. Rejecting such a vital project is not change. It is a massive disappointment,” he said.
Former Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa termed the decision an “extremely sad day for Tamil Nadu.” In a post on X, Rajaa said, “Extremely sad day for Tamil Nadu. The Parandur Airport project has been dropped, says the TVK Government. Years of hard work and intense planning to give Chennai the dual-runway Greenfield airport it desperately needs have been sacrificed at the altar of politics.”
Rajaa said industry experts understand the stakes and investment promotion agencies in neighbouring states will rejoice, saying Tamil Nadu has shot itself in the foot. “Industry experts understand the stakes. Investment promotion agencies in neighbouring states will now quietly rejoice, saying: “Tamil Nadu has shot itself in the foot.”Chennai’s growth and that of Tamil Nadu will now face a serious hurdle. We most urgently need a truly world-class international airport capable of handling large aircraft, with two operational 4,000m+ parallel runways,” Rajaa wrote on X.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president and ‘We The Leaders’ movement founder K Annamalai said the cancellation has set the state’s development back by at least 10 years. “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 for the second airport near Chennai, as the delay in identifying its location has set the state’s development back by at least 10 years,” Annamalai wrote on X.
Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu said dropping the proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport project for political reasons would cause economic damage to the state and could lead to industries moving towards neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Speaking to reporters, Thennarasu said all possibilities, including the setting up of two runways, were studied before Parandur was selected for the airport project. “Possibilities for setting up two runways were all studied, and only then Parandur was selected,” he said.
Thennarasu said former Chief Minister MK Stalin had stated that work on the Parandur Airport project would be dropped, but no information had been conveyed to the Central Government by the Tamil Nadu Government in this regard. He said compensation had already been provided to people whose land was acquired for the project. “As per the Land Acquisition Act, the land acquired should be used only for the purpose for which it was acquired,” Thennarasu said.
Congress Supports Move, Cites Environmental Study
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore supported the TVK government’s decision, saying the Congress stand is based on facts. Giving eight reasons, Tagore said the government’s own study saw this coming in 2022. He said the Airports Authority of India’s feasibility report submitted in March 2022 had recorded that Parandur was surrounded by water bodies, with more than a quarter of the site covered by irrigation tanks and a 201-hectare man-made lake just 1.4 km from the boundary.
In a post on X, Tagore said, “Why the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Supports the Cancellation of the Parandur Airport Project. For seven years, the farmers of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages fought to protect their land and livelihoods. Now that the Parandur Greenfield Airport project stands cancelled, the question is not whether this is a victory for one party over another. The real question is whether the original decision could ever have been justified.”
The Parandur airport project had been proposed as a second international airport for Chennai to cater to future passenger and cargo demand. The project had faced protests from residents of Eganapuram and neighbouring villages over land acquisition, environmental concerns and impact on livelihoods. (ANI)
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