Parandur airport: Delay in finding new site could set Tamil Nadu’s development back by 10 years, says Annamalai
K. Annamalai has criticized the Tamil Nadu government's decision to cancel the Parandur airport project, warning of a decade-long development delay. He argues that Chennai's current airport is insufficient to compete with other major Indian cities.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the tension between infrastructure development and political decision-making in India's rapidly growing aviation sector.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s announcement of the cancellation of the Parandur airport project came with “an opportunity cost that the State government needs to consider carefully,” We The Leaders founder K. Annamalai said on Monday (August 24, 2026). He said it would have been helpful if the Chief Minister had proposed a new site, as the delay in identifying the location would set the State’s development back by at least 10 years.
“Even if the Tamil Nadu government chose to move forward with a second airport instead of Parandur through an administrative decision soon, finding a site, taking approval from the Central government and statutory bodies, issuing tenders, acquiring land, and securing licences could take at least 10 years before the airport becomes operational. Meanwhile, other States would be advancing, leaving us behind,” Mr. Annamalai said in a social media post.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in