The Tamil Nadu government has officially dropped the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the decision in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 24, 2026. He said the government would identify another location for Chennai’s second airport and conduct a fresh technical feasibility study before selecting the site.
CM Calls for Airport Site That Minimises Impact on Farmers and Residents
The Chief Minister said the new airport should be developed at a location that causes the least possible impact on agricultural land and residential areas.
Recalling his visit to Eganapuram and nearby villages on January 20, 2025, Vijay said he had personally heard the concerns of residents opposing the airport project across Parandur and the 12 surrounding villages. Describing farmers as the backbone of the country, he reaffirmed his support for those fighting to protect their agricultural land.
He clarified that he supports industrial development and recognises the importance of airports in driving economic growth.
Parandur Airport Project: Site Selection and Project Scope
Parandur was selected in 2022 after four locations—Parandur, Pannur, Thiruporur and Padalam—were examined. The proposal subsequently received site clearance and in-principle approval from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The planned airport was to cover approximately 5,746 acres across 13 villages. Project estimates reported at different stages ranged from around ₹27,000 crore to ₹29,143 crore.
What Happens to the Land Already Acquired?
A considerable amount of land had already been secured for the airport.
By November 2025, the government had reportedly purchased around 1,100 acres through 1,075 registered sale deeds and paid approximately ₹680 crore to landowners. Around 1,500 acres was also reported to be under government control.
The State had announced compensation ranging from ₹35 lakh to ₹60 lakh per acre for specified agricultural lands. Higher amounts were fixed in certain cases based on guideline value and private negotiations.
However, the Assembly announcement did not clarify what will happen to land already purchased or acquired for the project. No official decision has yet been announced on whether this land will be returned to former owners, retained by the government or used for another purpose.
What Happens to the Parandur Metro Corridor?
A 53-km elevated Chennai Metro extension had been planned from Poonamallee to Parandur through Sunguvarchatram.
The proposed corridor was divided into:
- Phase I: Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram
- Phase II: Sunguvarchatram to Parandur
The complete corridor was estimated to cost ₹15,906 crore. The previous government had granted administrative approval for ₹2,126 crore towards preparatory work for the first phase.
The Tamil Nadu government has not yet announced whether the Metro project will be continued, modified or stopped following the airport cancellation.
No New Airport Location Announced Yet
The government has confirmed that Chennai will still have a second airport, but it has not yet selected an alternative site.
During the earlier site-selection process, two of the four locations considered were in Chengalpattu district:
- Thiruporur
- Padalam, located about 20 km south of Chengalpattu
However, the Airports Authority of India reportedly deemed both sites unsuitable due to airspace and operational constraints. At the time, Parandur and Pannur were considered more viable options.
Although Pannur, Thiruporur and Padalam were examined earlier, the government has not indicated that any of these locations will be selected for the new airport.
The replacement site will have to undergo fresh technical examination and the required State and Central approval processes.
Fifth Terminal Planned at Chennai Airport
Along with the Parandur announcement, the government proposed expanding the existing Chennai International Airport towards the north-west by constructing a fifth terminal.
The proposed terminal is expected to add capacity for approximately 20 million passengers annually.
Chennai airport recorded 23.02 million passengers during the 2025–26 financial year. Its present designed capacity is approximately 30 million passengers per year. The ongoing Terminal 3 expansion is expected to increase the airport’s total capacity to around 35 million passengers annually.
Detailed information about the fifth terminal’s cost, land requirement, construction schedule and approvals has not yet been released.
DMK Warns of Economic Impact
DMK MLA and former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu criticised the decision, alleging that Parandur was dropped for political reasons. He argued that abandoning the project could undermine Tamil Nadu’s economic growth, reduce employment opportunities and weaken its ability to attract investment, particularly as the airport was intended to address Chennai’s long-term aviation requirements.
Thennarasu said Parandur was still the most suitable site and warned that cancelling the project could drive industries towards Andhra Pradesh. He added that Tamil Nadu had already lost the proposed Hosur airport.
What Property Buyers Must Verify
The cancellation of the airport project changes Parandur’s official infrastructure status. No alternative airport site has been notified yet. Keeping this in mind, do not be misled by claims such as “the second airport will be set up here.”
Buyers considering land around Parandur or any rumoured alternative location should verify the official planning status, land classification, title records and acquisition notifications before purchasing.
Verified.RealEstate’s Guideline Value Checker, Land Use Checker, Owner Contact Finder and Legal Due Diligence services can help buyers verify property records instead of relying on unconfirmed airport-location claims.