PolityGS-IGS-IIGS-III· 1 min read
Parandur Airport Project Controversy
Why in news?
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the cancellation of the Parandur airport project, leading to debates about its impact on the state's development and potential alternatives.
Key points
- The proposed greenfield airport in Kancheepuram district was planned on 5,746 acres.
- The project was cancelled by CM C. Joseph Vijay, whose party previously opposed it.
- An alternative of developing a new terminal (Terminal 5) at the existing Chennai airport is being explored.
- Critics argue the delay in finding a new site could set Tamil Nadu's development back by a decade.
- The Central government's in-principle approval was granted in April 2025, with an estimated Phase I cost of ₹10,500 crore.
Background & context
Chennai's existing airport is considered insufficient given its size (1,300 acres) compared to airports in Hyderabad (5,500 acres), Bengaluru (4,000 acres), Navi Mumbai (2,866 acres), and Delhi (5,100 acres). The Parandur project aimed to address this capacity issue.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The Parandur airport project was proposed to be built on 5,746 acres of undeveloped land (greenfield).
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper 1 (Geography - Infrastructure), GS Paper 2 (Governance - Policy Decisions), GS Paper 3 (Economy - Infrastructure Development)