Parandur airport project to be dropped by Tamil Nadu government, announces CM Vijay
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced the cancellation of the proposed Parandur airport project to protect local farmland and settlements. The government plans to develop a new terminal at the existing Chennai airport instead, while searching for alternative sites for a future facility.
Why it matters
This decision marks a significant shift in infrastructure policy, prioritizing environmental and social concerns over industrial expansion in a major Indian state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday (August 24, 2026) announced his government’s decision to drop the proposed airport at Parandur and identify alternative sites for a new Chennai airport. Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, he said a new terminal, Terminal 5, would be developed in the north-western area of Chennai airport in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with an approach road and a flyover.
The main Opposition DMK sought to sepeak on the issue, but Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar said he would not allow a debate on an announcement made under Rule 110 of the Assembly. Former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said he was not seeking to debate the issue but wanted to make a clarification. The DMK members walked out after the Speaker stood his ground.
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