A now-scrapped plan to make a new airport near Chennai has become the latest flashpoint between Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK and the Opposition DMK that lost the election just months ago.
In June, TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar had announced a comprehensive review of the proposed project had been going on to find alternative locations.
Just after coming to power after a massive win, the Vijay government had already said it would review the site earmarked for the proposed greenfield airport. This would help protect local waterbodies and fertile lands, he had said.
Earlier reporting noted: CM Vijay says plan for 2nd airport for Chennai at Parandur to be dropped, new location to be proposed The Tamil Nadu government has officially announced that the proposed plan for a second airport for Chennai at Parandur will be dropped. Earlier reporting noted: Chief Minister Vijay on Monday said a new airport will be proposed at a location where there is no opposition from the people. “We are dropping Parandur airport. Parandur, located about 60km from west of Chennai, has seen long-drawn protests against the airport proposed by the previous MK Stalin government. He also slammed the previous DMK government for picking the largely populated area.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), have always been on the side of protesters who objected to the airport plan citing environmental concerns and danger to multi-crop agricultural lands in Parandur, some 70 km from the state capital. The Civil Aviation Ministry gave in-principle permission in April 2025 to build the airport in Parandur, which comes under Kancheepuram district.
I stand firm with the protesters against the proposed airport,” Vijay said. “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,” Vijay said. The new location will be decided after a careful study of technical feasibility by expert teams, he said. Earlier reporting noted: Vijay said the decision to cancel the project was taken to prevent relocation of a large number of people and protect agricultural land in the area.
DMK Threatens Privilege Motion Against Chief Minister
DMK leader Duraimurugan announced today that if the chief minister does not open their files within a week, the party will consider moving a privilege motion against him in the assembly. He emphasized that the DMK is willing to allow the chief minister to access the files, but failure to do so will prompt the opposition to act, claiming that the chief minister provided incorrect information during assembly proceedings.
