TN Government Reviews Proposed Meenambakkam Airport Satellite Terminal Plan
On Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government reviewed the existing capacity of the Chennai airport in Meenambakkam and a proposed project to build a satellite terminal and a connecting elevated corridor. The review meeting comes as land acquisition for the proposed Parandur airport has been paused.
According to sources, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) informed the State government that the existing airport in Meenambakkam will reach saturation by 2035. If additional expansion measures like the satellite terminal are implemented, the airport's capacity can be extended to meet demand until 2045.
The proposed satellite terminal is planned for the airside of the airport. To connect this building with National Highway 32, the AAI plans to construct an elevated corridor and has requested the State government’s permission for the project. If the Tamil Nadu government agrees to the proposal, the AAI will prepare and resubmit a detailed report on the satellite terminal and its total capacity.
Currently, the AAI-managed airport operates three terminals: the T1 domestic terminal, the T2 international terminal, and the T4 domestic terminal. A fourth terminal, the T3 international terminal, is currently under construction. The T3 project has faced severe delays, and its revised completion date is now set for December 2026.
During the meeting, the AAI also reiterated its requirement for land parcels for the Chennai airport, including a small parcel for a fuel farm. Discussions were also held regarding land requirements, access, and right-of-way issues for other regional airports in Tiruchi, Madurai, and Coimbatore.
The proposed Parandur airport project was not discussed during Saturday's meeting, as sources indicated it will be addressed in a separate meeting. Some anticipation existed that the second airport at Parandur would be discussed, and sources noted that dropping the Parandur project at this point would be a significant mistake on the State government's part.
