Chennai Second Airport: Tamil Nadu Scraps Parandur Project, To Search for New Site; Meenambakkam in Focus

Tamil Nadu has scrapped the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur and will now search for another location for Chennai's second international airport. The decision was announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the state Assembly on August 24, with the government citing concerns over agricultural land, local livelihoods and the impact on villages around the proposed site.

Chennai Second Airport: Tamil Nadu Drops Parandur Plan

The state, however, has made it clear that the need for another airport has not gone away. Chennai's growing passenger traffic, cargo requirements and expanding industrial base continue to make additional aviation capacity important. The government will now identify alternative locations with expert inputs, after which the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will examine their technical and operational feasibility.

Chennai is an important aviation and industrial centre in South India. Its airport serves a large passenger base and supports cargo movement linked to the automobile, electronics, engineering and other manufacturing sectors.

Tamil Nadu's earlier policy documents had warned that the existing Chennai airport could face capacity constraints as traffic grows. The state's manufacturing strength also makes air cargo an important part of the infrastructure requirement.

The new airport is therefore being treated as a long-term infrastructure project rather than simply an additional passenger terminal. A suitable site will need enough land for runways, terminals, cargo facilities and future expansion while also offering strong road and other transport connectivity.

Why Parandur Airport Project Was Cancelled

Parandur, in Kancheepuram district, had been selected as the proposed location in 2022. The site is around 68.5 km from central Chennai and became the focus of sustained protests from residents and farmers in the surrounding villages.

The main concerns involved the loss of agricultural land, effects on water bodies and wetlands, and possible disruption to homes and livelihoods. The government has now decided that the second airport should instead be located where the impact on farming communities and residential areas is lower.

The Parandur plan had already received in-principle approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry in April 2025, making the latest decision a significant change in the project's direction.

Chennai Airport Expansion: Meenambakkam to Get More Capacity

The existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam will remain important while the government searches for a new site. The state is also supporting expansion work at the current airport to handle rising passenger and cargo demand.

Reports indicate that the existing facility currently has capacity of around 30 million passengers annually, while expansion plans are aimed at substantially increasing that capacity.

This expansion is particularly important because a new greenfield airport cannot be built quickly. Site selection, feasibility studies, land arrangements, environmental clearances and construction could take several years.

What Happens Next for Chennai's Second Airport?

The immediate task for Tamil Nadu is to identify alternative locations. The shortlisted sites will need to pass aviation and infrastructure assessments before the government can move towards detailed planning.

The state also has to decide what happens to land already acquired for the Parandur project. Nearly 1,700 acres had reportedly been acquired, and authorities are examining possible alternative uses for the land.

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