Tamil Nadu shortlists Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi for Chennai second airport

The Tamil Nadu government has shortlisted Cheyyur in Chengalpattu district and Manalur near Gummidipoondi in Thiruvallur district as potential sites for a second international airport in Chennai. The state has formally requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct pre-feasibility studies at these locations to address rising passenger and cargo traffic demands.

This decision follows the abandonment of the previously proposed Greenfield International Airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. The search for a new site has been a long-standing issue, with efforts to establish a second airport dating back to 1999. While earlier proposals, such as a 4,000-acre site near Sriperumbudur, faced challenges regarding land acquisition and political shifts, the current administration is seeking new alternatives to ensure long-term aviation capacity for the region.