Parandur airport row: Stalin attacks Vijay, calls scrapping project a 'massive disappointment'

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin on Monday criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's decision to drop the proposed second Chennai airport at Parandur, calling the move an “irreversible setback” for the state's growth.

The proposed airport, around 60 km from Chennai in Kancheepuram district, had faced protests from residents over its possible impact on agricultural land and livelihoods.

Stalin calls decision a setback

“Dropping Parandur airport project is not change, it's an irreversible setback for Tamil Nadu's growth,” Stalin said in a post on X.

He said scrapping the project could push Tamil Nadu's development back by several years and argued that the state's interests should not be compromised for political considerations.

Stalin also objected to the way the announcement was made in the Assembly, saying there was no opportunity for debate.

“An announcement of such far-reaching importance being made under Rule No. 110, shutting out any opportunity for debate or even for members to voice their views, is deeply troubling.”

He said Tamil Nadu's position as a leader in electronics exports and automobile manufacturing made a world-class airport for Chennai essential.

“Rejecting such a vital project is not change. It is a massive disappointment,” he said.

DMK says Parandur site was already selected

Stalin said the Parandur site had been chosen after evaluating alternatives and that land acquisition was nearly complete.

“The site was carefully selected after evaluating all available alternatives, and the land acquisition process has been almost completed. With several stages of preparatory work and approvals already completed, we had drawn up plans to ensure that construction could begin at a rapid pace once we returned to office.”

He added, “If the new government now starts all over again, identifies another location and goes through the entire process before work can even begin, Tamil Nadu's growth trajectory itself will DROP.”

Vijay cites farmers, environment

Vijay announced the decision to drop the Parandur proposal, which had an estimated cost of ₹20,000 crore and an annual capacity of 100 million passengers.

The project had faced opposition from residents of Parandur and surrounding villages, who said it could affect agricultural land and livelihoods.

Vijay said he had visited the area in 2025 and supported farmers protesting the project.

“I firmly stood with them against the airport proposed to be set up at Parandur and the surrounding 12 villages,” he said.

He added, “The government will select an alternative site that minimises the damage to agricultural land and does not affect people's livelihoods,” he said.

Chennai airport expansion plan

Vijay said the existing Meenambakkam airport would be expanded while an alternative location for a second airport is considered.

"After the ongoing construction work of Passenger Terminal 3 at Chennai [Meenambakkam] airport is completed, it will be capable of handling 35 million passengers annually," he said. "After the new Terminal 5 comes into operation, this airport will have a total handling capacity of 55 million passengers per year."

The decision triggered opposition from the DMK, which staged a walkout from the Assembly.

The Opposition had sought a discussion on the Parandur airport project, but the Speaker declined to allow it.