TN CM announces shelving of Parandur airport project
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced that his Government will shelve the second airport project in Chennai, the Parandur greenfield airport project, citing concerns over the impact on agricultural land, farmers and residential areas. The proposed project is worth over Rs 27,000 crores. Opposition, including DMK president and former chief MK Stalin, criticised the decision to scrap the project.
Vijay also announced expansion of the fare-free bus travel scheme for women and three free cooking gas cylinders a year to 1.30 crore beneficiaries at an annual cost of about Rs 4,000 crore.
Making several announcements in the state assembly, Vijay, fulfilling TVK’s key electoral assurances, said that deluxe, express, limited stop and moffusil services will also be free for women and transgenders from October 2 and this move will entail an expenditure of Rs 6,000 crore per annum. Speaking in the State Assembly, Vijay said Chennai’s existing Meenambakkam airport, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), currently has the capacity to handle around 30 million passengers annually.
He said a second airport was necessary to meet the growing requirements of the Chennai metropolitan region, support industrial development and expand cargo transportation.
Vijay said the previous Government had pursued the Parandur project despite its potential impact on farmers. He recalled visiting Eganapuram and neighbouring villages on January 20, 2025, where residents had been protesting against the proposed airport. Vijay said he had met the protestors and listened to their concerns.
