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Tamil Nadu airport development policy

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2026-08-26 07:46 UTC → 2026-08-29 05:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Tamil Nadu government has faced criticism regarding its aviation and investment strategies as neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka advance major airport projects. Initially, the state maintained a ban on new airport developments in areas such as Parandur and Hosur, leading to concerns about industrial competition. Following years of protests from local residents and farmers over land acquisition and environmental impacts, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the abandonment of the Parandur greenfield international airport project. This decision fulfills a campaign promise to local villagers and protest committees who opposed the project due to concerns over agricultural land and water bodies. The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) maintains the site is unsuitable, while the DMK continues to raise concerns regarding the economic implications of the cancellation. The cancellation has triggered intense political debate within the State Legislative Assembly. While the Congress party supported the move based on environmental sustainability, opposition members from the DMK have criticized the decision, arguing that abandoning the site could hinder the state’s long-term industrial growth and aviation requirements. During assembly discussions, government ministers suggested that opposition to the cancellation was motivated by the financial interests of specific individuals linked to real estate investments. In the wake of the Parandur decision, the proposed Hosur airport project has also become a point of contention. AIADMK MLA P Balakrishna Reddy urged the government to abandon the Hosur project to protect farmers' livelihoods, citing the Parandur precedent. However, Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan rejected this demand, stating that the acquisition of agricultural land is an “inevitable requirement” for major development projects. To meet the aviation needs of Chennai, the government intends to conduct feasibility studies for an alternative site, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) tasked with assessing technical feasibility. In the interim, the expansion of Meenambakkam airport, including the development of a new Terminal 5, is expected to increase annual passenger capacity to 55 million. Regarding the 1,700 acres of land previously acquired for the Parandur project, State Industries Minister S Keerthana stated that the government intends to repurpose the land for other development initiatives, such as SIPCOT industrial estates or agro-processing units.

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