CHENNAI — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has officially called off the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur, marking a dramatic policy shift that delivers on his core pre-election commitment while triggering a heated showdown with the main opposition party.
Vijay, leading the newly empowered Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government following its victory over the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), stated that his administration would not build major infrastructure at the cost of agricultural livelihoods or ecological stability.
Prioritizing Multi-Crop Farmland and Farmers’ Rights
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Vijay affirmed his alignment with local anti-airport movements and resident farmers from the Kancheepuram district.
“We are dropping the Parandur airport. I stand firm with the protesters against the proposed airport,” Vijay announced, adding that the state will explore alternative, non-agricultural sites for Chennai’s second airport.
The now-abandoned plan to establish an airport roughly 70 km from Chennai was initiated during the DMK’s tenure, securing initial clearance from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in mid-2025. However, sustained protests from local communities highlighted several key risks:
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Impact on Farmland: Loss of thousands of acres of fertile multi-crop agricultural soil across multiple villages.
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Ecological Risks: Potential destruction of local waterbodies, wetlands, and natural drainage systems vital to the region.
DMK Issues One-Week Ultimatum to Government
The decision has sharply escalated tensions between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK. Senior DMK leader Duraimurugan countered Vijay’s stance by demanding the full disclosure of all government documentation concerning the site selection and planning process.
“If the Chief Minister doesn’t open our files, we will move a privilege motion against him in the assembly,” Duraimurugan warned, setting a one-week deadline for the state government to make the administrative records public.
With the Parandur plan officially shelved, the state government now faces the dual task of evaluating new project sites for long-term aviation needs while managing the political fallout in the state assembly.
