Tamil Nadu Government Scraps Parandur Airport Project, Cites Unsuitable Land for Runway
The Vijay-led government says a large portion of the acquired site consists of water bodies, making runway construction unfeasible.
The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister Vijay, has cancelled the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur near Chennai, citing environmental and technical concerns over the selected site.
Industries Minister Nirmal Kumar said that a significant portion of the land acquired for the project was unsuitable for airport infrastructure. According to the government, nearly 800–900 acres of the site are surrounded by water bodies, making it impossible to construct a stable runway.
The state government has announced that it will begin searching for an alternative location for Chennai's second airport, with environmental considerations playing a key role in the selection process.
The decision has created uncertainty for residents whose land had already been acquired by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) under the previous government. Questions remain over the future of the acquired land and whether affected landowners will receive compensation or rehabilitation.
The opposition DMK has criticized the move, arguing that Parandur was selected only after an extensive evaluation of multiple locations. Party spokesperson A. Saravanan said the airport was crucial for Chennai's future growth and accused the ruling TVK government of abandoning a strategically important infrastructure project.
The Parandur airport project, spread over nearly 4,970 acres, was announced in 2022 by the previous DMK government. It had faced sustained opposition from local farmers and environmental groups, who raised concerns over large-scale displacement and the destruction of wetlands.
While the project has now been shelved, the Tamil Nadu government has reiterated its commitment to developing a second airport for Chennai. However, the location and timeline for the new project have not yet been announced.
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