Abandoning Parandur airport project could affect industrial growth, says Thangam Thennarasu

CHENNAI: Former Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Monday (August 24) said the proposed Parandur airport was crucial for Tamil Nadu's industrial and economic growth and alleged that the DMK's calling-attention motion on the project was not taken up for discussion in the Assembly, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Speaking to reporters after DMK members staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday, following Chief Minister Vijay's announcement under Rule 110 that the Parandur airport project would be abandoned, Thennarasu said a second airport for Chennai was essential considering the State's industrial development and the concentration of industries in the Sriperumbudur region.

He said the DMK had submitted a calling-attention motion seeking a discussion on the Parandur airport project and had been given to understand that it would be taken up on Monday. However, Thennarasu alleged that the Speaker did not allow the motion to be debated after Chief Minister Vijay made the announcement under Rule 110 regarding the cancellation of the Parandur airport project.

Thennarusu stresses economic importance of airports

Thennarasu said airports were important for both industrial and economic development and argued that Parandur had been selected only after several locations were surveyed.

He said there were complications in establishing a second airport at other locations around Chennai and claimed that Parandur had been identified after considering various factors. According to Thennarasu, the proposed airport had also become important because of the high concentration of industries in and around Sriperumbudur.

He said several electronics companies had established their operations in the Sriperumbudur area while considering the proposed Parandur airport and its connectivity. Thennarasu further questioned the decision to abandon the project without discussing its possible economic consequences in the Assembly.

He said the impact of cancelling the Parandur airport project on industries, investment and the State's economic growth needed to be considered. “It is essential to act beyond political motives,” Thennarasu said, stressing the need to look at the issue from an economic and industrial perspective.

DMK stages walkout over Parandur airport project scrapping

Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Vijay announced in the Assembly under Rule 110 that his government would abandon the measures initiated to establish the new airport at Parandur. Following the announcement, DMK members stood up and raised slogans in the House. They alleged that the Speaker had denied permission to discuss the issue and subsequently staged a walkout from the Assembly.

The Chief Minister said alternative sites had been shortlisted for the proposed airport and that the final location would be decided after the concerned departments conducted technical feasibility studies. The government has also announced plans to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam to meet the city's growing passenger and cargo requirements until a new airport is established at an alternative location.