Tamil Nadu drops Parandur airport project amid farmer, ecology concerns

The Tamil Nadu government has officially scrapped the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur, bringing an end to a project that had been in the works since 2022. The decision, announced in August 2026, comes after months of sustained opposition from local farmers and growing concerns over the ecological impact of the project.

The site at Parandur had been finalised during the previous DMK regime, which had pushed the project as a key infrastructure initiative to decongest the existing Chennai airport. However, the new TVK-led administration has chosen to shelve the plan, citing the strong resistance from landowners and activists who argued that the airport would have displaced families and damaged agricultural land.

Environmental groups had also flagged risks to local water bodies and wetlands, adding to the pressure on the government to reconsider the project. The scrapping marks a significant policy reversal and is being seen as a major concession to grassroots mobilisation.

While no alternative site has been announced yet, the government has indicated that it will review other options for expanding air connectivity in the region. The decision is expected to have political and economic ramifications, with the project having been a cornerstone of the previous government's infrastructure agenda.