TN Scraps Parandur Airport Project and Plans 5th Terminal at Chennai Airport

The Tamil Nadu government has officially dropped the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced in the state Assembly on Monday. The state government is actively considering alternative locations for a new airport while preparing to construct a fifth terminal at the existing Chennai airport.

Making the announcement under Section 110, the Chief Minister said that fresh sites are under review and that a final location will be chosen soon. Expert teams will be deployed to carry out technical feasibility studies before any new site is finalized.

The Chief Minister stated that the TVK government was firm in its stand against allowing an airport project to proceed at Parandur. He criticized the previous DMK administration for choosing a site that would have required the relocation of a large number of local residents and caused significant disruptions to agriculture in the area.

Highlighting public opposition to the previous plan, Vijay recalled his visit to Eganapuram and surrounding villages on January 20, 2025. During that visit, he met with local residents to hear the direct grievances of villagers protesting against the proposed Parandur airport.

To address immediate aviation requirements, the government plans to expand the existing Chennai airport on its north-western side through the construction of a fifth terminal. The planned terminal is expected to handle an additional 20 million passengers annually.

Chennai airport currently accommodates approximately 30 million passengers each year. Once the under-construction Terminal 3 becomes operational, the facility's capacity is expected to rise to 34 million passengers per annum. The proposed fifth terminal will augment total airport capacity by a further 20 million passengers per year.