Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, on August 24, 2026, announced that the plan to develop the Parandur airport in the Kancheepuram district of the State will be dropped. His party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), had strongly opposed the project even before it was voted into power in the State.

From July 2026: Tamil Nadu government yet to request Centre to shift airport site from Parandur: Union Minister of State

The opposition leaders of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) wanted to debate the issue in the Legislative Assembly, but Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar stated that an announcement made under Rule 110 of the Assembly cannot be debated. In protest, they walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

From August 2026: Tamil Nadu govt. to explore alternative sites for Chennai’s second airport, also keen on Hosur project

What is the Parandur Airport project?

The Parandur airport project proposed to create a new civil international airport in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu on a total area of 5,746 acres. It was a ‘greenfield airport project’, meaning that the airport would have been built on completely undeveloped land rather than expanding on a previous site. 

New Terminal instead of Parandur Airport

CM Vijay has said that 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 CM said that he had consulted experts on the creation of a new airport, and a few alternative sites had been identified without causing much damage to farmland settlements.

He said Chennai airport was currently handling 30 million passengers a year. “After the completion of Terminal 5, the passenger capacity will increase by another 55 million a year. It will improve the services and transport facilities until a new airport is completed,” he said.

Locals oppose Parandur airport

Local villagers and farmers in Parandur had been protesting against the airport since 2022. The main concerns of the local people were the taking over of lands in 13 villages and the displacement of nearly 1,000 families for the airport project. 

Parandur Airport: A timeline

August 2022: The Union Civil Aviation Ministry announces that the State government has finalised Parandur over Pannur as the site for Chennai’s second international airport.

September 2024: The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) submits a detailed proposal to the Centre, including a multi-phase execution plan for the airport. It projects an estimated expenditure of ₹10,500 crore for Phase 1 development.

January 2025: Second phase of the project commences under the central Greenfield Airports Policy (GFA). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) discuss clearance requirements.

March 2025: Project officially recommended to the Civil Aviation Ministry for approval.

April 2025: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) grants in-principle approval to TIDCO to begin land-pooling, master planning and bidding for the 5,746 acre site.

March 2026: Tamil Nadu government designates the project as a “Special Project” under the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation Act.

August 2026: Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay announces the cancellation of the project.