Dropping Parandur airport will cause economic damage: DMK MLA warns

DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu warned that dropping the Parandur airport project will cause economic damage to Tamil Nadu. However, CM Joseph Vijay announced the scrapping of the project, stating it would protect agricultural land and farmers' livelihoods.

Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu on Monday said dropping the proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport project for political reasons would cause economic damage to the state and could lead to industries moving towards neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

DMK warns of economic fallout

Speaking to reporters, Thennarasu said all possibilities, including the setting up of two runways, were studied before Parandur was selected for the airport project. "Possibilities for setting up two runways were all studied and only then Parandur was selected," he said.

Thennarasu said former Chief Minister MK Stalin had stated that work on the Parandur Airport project would be dropped, but no information had been conveyed to the Central Government by the Tamil Nadu Government in this regard.

He said compensation had already been provided to people whose land was acquired for the project. "As per the Land Acquisition Act, the land acquired should be used only for the purpose for which it was acquired," Thennarasu said.

He said Parandur would be the best location for the proposed airport and warned that scrapping the project could have economic consequences. "It would be best to have the airport at Parandur. Dropping the Parandur Airport project for political reasons will cause economic damage," he said.

Thennarasu further said several industries could shift towards Andhra Pradesh if the project was dropped. "Many industries will move towards Andhra Pradesh. We have already lost the Hosur Airport," he said.

Meanwhile, DMK staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, protesting against the denial of an opportunity to speak in the House about the Parandur airport project.

CM scraps project to protect farmers

The remarks came after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay announced that his government would abandon steps taken to establish a new airport at Parandur, saying the project would affect agricultural land and disrupt the livelihoods of farmers and residents.

Speaking in the Assembly, CM Vijay said Chennai's Meenambakkam airport, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), currently has the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually. He said a new airport was needed considering the city's growing requirements, industrial development and increasing cargo transportation.

However, the Chief Minister said the new airport should be located at a place where agricultural land and residential areas are minimally affected.

CM Vijay said he had visited Eganapuram and other villages on January 20, 2025, and listened to the grievances of people protesting against the proposed airport at Parandur and surrounding villages. "I stand firmly with the people protesting against the airport to be established in Chennai's Parandur and 12 surrounding villages," he said.

The Chief Minister said farmers were the backbone of the country and expressed support for those protesting to protect their agricultural land.

CM Vijay said he had already opposed the Parandur airport project at a public meeting in Vikravandi in October 2024, while stressing that he supported industrial development and the role of airports in it. "However, this project should not be located in Parandur. The government must reconsider this project," he said, adding that an alternative location should be identified where minimum agricultural land is affected and people's livelihoods are not disrupted.

He said detailed consultations were held with senior officials and experts regarding the establishment of a new airport. "To fulfill the promise I made to the people that day... the steps taken to establish a new airport in Parandur will be abandoned by this government," CM Vijay said.

In April 2025, the Civil Aviation Ministry had granted the 'in-Principle' approval for setting up an International Greenfield Airport at Parandur, Kancheepuram District. (ANI)

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