Chennai’s Parandur Airport Gets Centre’s Nod Despite Rising Local Opposition

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that the Parandur Airport project marks a major milestone in improving regional connectivity.

The farmlands and waterbodies of Ekanapuram and nearby villages, including Parandur, are part of the proposed site for Tamil Nadu’s new airport in Kanchipuram district.

Source : PTI

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has given its in-principle nod for the much-anticipated second airport in Chennai, to be constructed in Parandur. Estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crore, the greenfield project aims to address the increasing air traffic demand in the metropolitan region. However, the approval comes amidst intensifying protests from residents and farmers in the affected areas.

Taking to X, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed optimism about the project’s potential. Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “It gives me immense pleasure to share that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for the new Perandur Airport! Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, growing passenger demand is being addressed by strengthening airport capacity across the country, especially in mega cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai through the development of second airports."

"I believe the Perandur Airport represents a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity and NDA Govt is committed in further bolstering Tamil Nadu’s aviation infrastructure," he said.

 

 

It gives me immense pleasure to share that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for the new Perandur Airport!

Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, growing passenger demand is being addressed by strengthening…

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) April 9, 2025

 

The Parandur airport will be developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to officials, once operational, it is expected to serve approximately 100 million passengers annually, significantly decongesting Chennai’s existing Meenambakkam airport.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier finalised Parandur as the site after multiple feasibility studies and consultations. 

Parandur Locals Protest 

Located near Kanchipuram, the proposed airport will span over 2,171 hectares of land, including 1,386 hectares of fertile farmland and 577 hectares of water bodies, as reported by The News Minute. The large-scale land acquisition has triggered alarm among local communities, particularly in Ekanapuram village, where protests have been ongoing for nearly 1,000 days. A significant demonstration is expected on April 20 to mark this milestone, reported The New Indian Express.

Many villagers fear displacement and loss of livelihood, while environmental activists have raised concerns about the project's ecological footprint.

Still, with farmer opposition mounting, the road to execution may remain turbulent.