DMK Criticises Scrapping of Parandur Airport Project in Assembly

The DMK has strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu government's decision to drop the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, warning that cancelling the infrastructure plan could harm the state's economic growth and push industries toward neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Opposition members staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly after being denied an opportunity to speak on the issue in the House.

Speaking on the development, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said the Parandur facility was planned as an essential extension to the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam to support upcoming industries. He argued that halting the project to appease protesting farmers would adversely affect overall industrial and economic progress.

Former minister and DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu stated that comprehensive feasibility studies, including provisions for two runways, had been conducted before selecting Parandur. He noted that compensation had already been disbursed for acquired land and cautioned that abandoning the site could lead companies to relocate outside the state.

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay announced the decision to abandon the Parandur site, explaining that the project would disrupt agricultural land and the livelihoods of residents across Parandur, Eganapuram, and 12 surrounding villages. He reiterated that while a new airport is required to meet growing passenger and cargo traffic beyond Meenambakkam's current capacity of 30 million passengers annually, it should be built where agricultural and residential impacts are minimal.

According to the state's Industries Policy Note, alternative sites near Chennai will be evaluated in consultation with experts and the Airports Authority of India. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India plans to build a new passenger handling system on the north-west side of Meenambakkam airport to manage capacity demands.