Tamil Nadu drops Parandur greenfield airport, sparking fears of aviation lag

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the abandonment of the Parandur greenfield airport, fulfilling a campaign promise to protect farmland from large-scale acquisition. The project, estimated at ₹27,400 crore and designed for 100 million annual passengers, was halfway through land acquisition when the decision was made. Critics, including an unnamed senior government official, argue the move jeopardises Tamil Nadu’s $400 billion economy by slowing cargo growth and industrial expansion.

The Airports Authority of India is studying new locations in Manalur (Gummidipoondi) and Cheyyur, but industry representatives say any new site will face similar land-acquisition hurdles. Cargo volumes at Chennai rose 11 % in CY2025, and the state now needs an airport capable of handling 80-100 million passengers to stay competitive with Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Opposition figures contend the cancellation reflects a politically driven misstep that could set the state back a decade in aviation infrastructure.