The scrapping of Parandur airport project: a compilation
This is a compilation of The Hindu’s coverage on the dropping of Parandur airport project by the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government in August 2026 citing farmers’ opposition and ecological concerns after the site was finalised during the DMK regime in 2022.
In a move aligned with one of its election pledges, the Tamil Nadu government under the leadership of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has officially scrapped the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, to be Chennai's second airport. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay declared this decision in the State Assembly on August 24, 2026. He reiterated the need for a second airport in Chennai, but stressed that it should not come at the expense of agricultural lands, the livelihoods of farmers, and local residents.
The Parandur airport project, costing approximately ₹27,400 crore, was initially planned to span across 3,000 acres of fertile agricultural lands. Its completion was expected to enable it to handle up to 100 million air passengers annually. The government's decision to abandon the project, finalized after four years, comes amidst years of intense opposition and persistent protests from farmers and local residents around Ekanapuram in Kancheepuram district since 2022.
They have raised serious concerns over the project's potential environmental impact, loss of farmlands, water bodies, and livelihoods, as well as potential displacement of families.
The scrapping of the Parandur airport project has sparked discussions about the future of the roughly 1,700 acres of agricultural land already acquired during the previous DMK government's tenure. Meanwhile, calls are intensifying for the State government to expedite the identification of an alternative, new site for Chennai's second airport.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
