The Airports Authority has decided to submit a detailed study report to Chief Minister Vijay, arguing that building a new international airport at Paranthur is “a must of the hour,” amid continuing controversy over the project.
Chennai’s existing airport at Meenambakkam handles more than 60,000 passengers a day and records over 400 aircraft movements daily across three terminals. However, officials say runway operational constraints, difficulty in acquiring additional land for upgrades, and delays in expansion have put the next phase of growth in doubt.
The earlier DMK government had planned a second airport on about 5,600 acres in Paranthur, Kancheepuram district. Orders were issued to acquire around 3,700 acres beyond government land, and about 1,700 acres of agricultural land has been acquired over the past two years. After the April Assembly election, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam formed the government, and land acquisition has since been paused, with the state also considering whether the site could instead be used for a SIPCOT industrial park.
Senior Airports Authority officials, along with Union Civil Aviation Ministry representatives expected in Chennai this month, plan to meet the Chief Minister and present the report. They say passenger numbers in Tamil Nadu are rising sharply, current infrastructure is insufficient, and limited capacity affects the ability to operate more direct international services.
According to the Authority, Paranthur is planned with modern runways and wider airspace handling capacity, enabling airlines to expand services and potentially operate direct flights to Europe and the United States. The proposed airport is designed to meet demand for the next 30 to 50 years, and studies on geology, environmental impact and transport connectivity have been completed. Officials also said an “aerotropolis” is planned around the airport to boost cargo movement and trade, and they expressed confidence that the project can move forward after the report is submitted.
