Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday hit back at the Opposition DMK’s claim that the Parandur greenfield airport project was 90 per cent complete, saying only 48 per cent of the required land had been acquired, and the proposed site lacked environmental clearance.
Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar made the remarks in the Assembly amid a heated debate over Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s decision to scrap the proposed airport and identify an alternative site for Chennai’s second airport.
Kumar said the project required 5,846 acres, of which 3,774 acres was private patta land, including 2,681 acres of fertile agricultural land. Of the 1,972 acres of government land required, 1,558 acres comprised water bodies and canals, he said. So far, only around 1,802 acres, or 48 per cent of the total requirement, had been acquired, he added.
LAND ACQUISITION INCOMPLETE, SAYS GOVT
Responding to DMK member S Austin’s criticism of the decision, Kumar said land acquisition had not even begun in several villages, including Ekanapuram, Karai, Thandalam and Siruvalur.
He also said the proposed airport site had several water bodies and claimed that no environmental impact assessment had been conducted, and environmental clearance obtained for the project.
Kumar said the project had also faced delays during the previous AIADMK regime due to the presence of water bodies.
The minister further cited the government’s plans to expand Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam. Quoting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, he said the expansion of Terminals 3 and 5 would eventually raise the airport’s annual passenger-handling capacity to 55 million.
DMK, RULING PARTY CLASH OVER PROJECT
The debate turned acrimonious after Kumar made remarks targeting an alleged real estate beneficiary of the previous DMK government’s decision to pursue the second airport project.
DMK member Thangam Thennarasu hit back with a “lottery” remark and questioned the rationale behind cancelling the project. As DMK members raised objections, ruling party legislators also stood up in protest, leading to chaos in the House.
Speaker J C Prabhakar intervened and appealed to members to maintain calm, assuring both the ruling and Opposition benches an equal opportunity to present their views.
Former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also sought clarity on the fate of land already acquired for the project. He asked whether the land would be returned to the original owners and whether compensation already paid would be recovered.
CM ANNOUNCES ALTERNATIVE SITE FOR SECOND AIRPORT
Chief Minister Vijay had on Monday announced that the Parandur greenfield airport project would be abandoned and that an alternative site would be identified for Chennai’s second airport.
Vijay said the government stood with local residents and would not allow an airport project to disrupt communities. He claimed nearly 55 per cent of the land identified for Parandur comprised water bodies and wetlands, raising concerns over runway safety and flooding.
The Chief Minister maintained that the government was not against development and would actively pursue an alternative site after detailed technical feasibility studies. He said the new location would be chosen in an area without public opposition.
Vijay also announced plans for a fifth terminal on the northwestern side of Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam, which would add another 20 million passengers to its annual handling capacity. Once Terminal 3 is completed, the airport’s capacity would rise to 35 million passengers, taking the combined capacity to 55 million.
PARANDUR PROJECT FACED FARMERS’ PROTEST
The Parandur airport project, initiated by the previous DMK government in 2022 in neighbouring Kancheepuram district, was estimated to cost Rs 27,400 crore.
Farmers, landowners and villagers, particularly those from Ekanapuram, had staged prolonged protests against the project, with environmental groups also opposing the proposed development.
Earlier in the Assembly, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna alleged that the project involved a major real estate scam and said the TVK government was committed to tackling corruption.
Meanwhile, farmers and villagers from Ekanapuram and adjoining areas met Vijay on Tuesday and expressed gratitude for the decision to drop the project. They honoured the Chief Minister with a shawl as a token of appreciation.
– Ends
Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Aug 25, 2026 18:29 IST
