Tamil Nadu scraps Parandur airport plan after years of farmer protests

The Tamil Nadu government has formally shelved plans for a greenfield airport at Parandur on the outskirts of Chennai, marking a significant reversal following sustained opposition from local farming communities. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that a new Terminal 5 would be constructed within the existing airport premises in the north-western sector, eliminating the need for the separate facility that had drawn considerable public resistance.

The Parandur project had faced mounting pressure from villagers and agricultural landholders since 2022, with protests intensifying over concerns about land acquisition and displacement. The proposed airport would have required substantial land acquisition in the region, affecting farming operations and residential areas in several villages around the locality.

The decision to pivot toward terminal expansion at the existing Chennai International Airport reflects the government's effort to balance infrastructure development with local concerns. The new terminal is expected to enhance the airport's capacity to handle increasing air traffic demands across South India while avoiding the environmental and social complications associated with establishing a new airport facility.

Chennai's existing airport has been undergoing incremental expansions to accommodate growing passenger traffic. The revised approach utilizing the established airport site is anticipated to expedite project implementation while reducing administrative and legal hurdles typically encountered with new airport developments requiring large-scale land acquisition.