India

Chennai’s Second Airport Reset: Parandur Dropped, New Site Sought

Published: 24 August 2026 · 1 min read

What Happened

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announced that his government will not proceed with the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur near Chennai. The government said Chennai still needs a second airport, but a new location will be identified that causes minimal impact on farmland, water bodies and local livelihoods. The Parandur project had faced years of protests from farmers and residents.

Key Takeaways

The decision marks a major policy reversal in one of Tamil Nadu's biggest infrastructure projects. While the government says it remains committed to building a second airport for Chennai, the move has triggered criticism from the DMK, which backed the original project as essential for the city's long-term aviation and economic growth.

Sources

News18, India Today