Tamil Nadu scouts new airport sites, abandons Parandur project plan

The Tamil Nadu government has begun scouting fresh locations for Chennai's second airport while simultaneously pushing ahead with its plan to construct an airport at Hosur, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay confirmed during a review meeting at the Secretariat. An announcement on both projects is expected within days.

Parandur project in limbo

The move carries weight because the government has not issued any formal order abandoning the Parandur site, originally selected under the previous DMK administration led by M.K. Stalin. Land acquisition at Parandur—where 1,700 acres had already been secured and the project had received site clearance and in-principle approval—has been halted for several months. The ruling TVK had campaigned against the Parandur airport before the election.

New sites under review

Recent weeks saw the government evaluate expanding the existing Meenambakkam airport alongside several fresh sites for a second facility. A location in Chengalpet district is among those under consideration. Officials said the government is unlikely to reverse its decision on Parandur. Should a new site be chosen, the project could take five to seven years to materialise.

Hosur airport hinges on Defence clearance

The Hosur airport faces a specific hurdle: the government must secure approval from the Defence Ministry to relax airspace restrictions over the proposed site. Despite the challenge, officials expressed confidence that the State will build the airport and find a way around the airspace constraints.

Source: The Hindu