Farmers, water bodies: Why has CM Vijay dropped 2nd Chennai airport plan, for now

Chief minister C Joseph Vijay today (24 August) announced the scrapping of the second Chennai airport project in Kancheepuram's Parandur, four years after his predecessor, M K Stalin, announced it in August 2022, about 60km west of Tamil Nadu's capital, with an estimated cost of ₹20,000 crore and an annual capacity of 100 million passengers. Stalin's announcement raised concerns over the ecology and the threat to water bodies in Parandur. 

The land in Parandur was believed to be unsuitable for runways because of water bodies. Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has said it accords top priority to the environment.

The proposed airport triggered protests, with residents maintaining the greenfield project would affect their livelihood as paddy is grown on land proposed for it. The protests lasted for a year. In January 2025, Vijay joined the protest at Parandur, over a year before his TVK contested its first election and was voted to power.

Vijay promises alternative sites for new airport

Today (24 August), Vijay promised suitable alternative sites for establishing the new airport. He said the existing airport at Meenambakkam has capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually. He cited the growing needs of a developing city, passenger convenience, industrial development, and the need to increase cargo transport for establishing a new airport.

Vijay told the state assembly that the Chennai airport in Meenambakkam will be expanded with a new passenger terminal, capable of handling an additional 20 million passengers annually. He added there would be more access roads and flyovers. "After the ongoing construction work of Passenger Terminal 3 at Chennai [Meenambakkam] airport is completed, it will be capable of handling 35 million passengers annually," he said. "After the new terminal 5 comes into operation, this airport will have a total handling capacity of 55 million passengers per year."

He said facilities will be enhanced and the traffic managed better until the new airport is constructed.

DMK stages walkout over Chennai airport announcement

The Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) demanded a discussion on the Parandur airport. As the Speaker did not entertain the request, the DMK lawmakers staged a walk-out as a mark of protest.

Vijay underlined that the new airport should not affect farmers on a large scale. He added that it should not also displace a large number of people. Vijay said the previous government's proposed location for the airport would have severely impacted farmers and displaced a large number of residents.

Vijay said he visited Parandur in 2025 and listened to the grievances of the local people. "I firmly stood with them against the airport proposed to be set up at Parandur and the surrounding 12 villages," he said. "I had expressed my support to the farmers who have been protesting against this project. Farmers are the backbone of the nation, and these people were protesting to protect their agricultural lands," Vijay recalled.

Vijay cited industrial development and the role of airports in progress and said he fully supports development, but the new Chennai airport should not be in Parandur. "The government will select an alternative site that minimises the damage to agricultural land and does not affect people's livelihoods," he said.

He said he held consultations with officials and domain experts regarding the new airport. "A few suitable alternative sites have been selected for the new airport without impacting agricultural lands and residences."

He promised technical feasibility studies before finalising the location for the new airport.