Chennai, August 24: In a major policy decision announced in the State Assembly, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay declared that the Tamil Nadu government is officially abandoning the proposed greenfield international airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. The announcement fulfills a core campaign commitment made by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leadership, putting an end to over three years of continuous resistance from local communities.
The primary driver behind the cancellation was the severe social and ecological toll of the 5,746-acre proposal, which threatened extensive fertile farmland, endangered the livelihoods of agrarian families, and required the physical displacement of over 1,000 families across 13 villages, including Eganapuram.
Furthermore, official environmental reviews highlighted that over 50 percent of the designated project footprint comprised crucial wetlands, lakes, and local water resources, raising major flooding risks and ecological concerns for the Kancheepuram region.
Addressing the House, Chief Minister Vijay reiterated that while his administration recognizes the essential role of infrastructure in enabling economic expansion, development cannot come at the expense of rural communities. Recalling his January 2025 visit to Eganapuram to stand in solidarity with the protesting residents, Vijay stated that farmers remain the backbone of the nation and reaffirmed his government’s resolve to prioritize their welfare.
The decision has drawn sharp political reactions across the state. Opposition MLAs led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a walkout in the Assembly after speaker rulings, with DMK President M. K. Stalin publicly criticizing the cancellation as an irreversible setback to Tamil Nadu’s industrial timeline and one-trillion-dollar economic ambitions. Conversely, local residents, farmers, and environmental activist groups across the affected villages celebrated the announcement, expressing gratitude for the preservation of their ancestral lands and water ecosystems.
To address Chennai’s growing aviation demands without sacrificing farmland, the state government outlined a strategic two-part alternative plan.
First, the state will collaborate with the Airports Authority of India to expand the operational capacity of the existing Meenambakkam facility. By constructing a fifth terminal (Terminal 5) on the northwestern side of the airport alongside dedicated flyovers and elevated access corridors, the state aims to boost Chennai International Airport’s annual capacity from its current 30 million passengers up to 55 million per year, following the near-term completion of Terminal 3.
Second, to meet long-term regional growth, the government has initiated technical feasibility assessments to identify a new greenfield site across neighboring districts that ensures minimal disruption to residential settlements, agricultural land, and natural water bodies.
