Tamil Nadu government mulls over new use for 1,700 acres acquired in Parandur

CHENNAI: With the Tamil Nadu government dropping the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur, the immediate focus has shifted to the nearly 1,700 acres already acquired for the project, with the Industries department examining alternative industrial uses for the land while the State looks for a new site for Chennai’s second airport.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the decision in the Assembly on Monday, saying the proposed airport would affect agricultural land and disrupt the livelihoods of farmers and residents.

At the same time, he made it clear that Chennai’s need for an additional airport remained and that an alternative location would be identified with minimal impact on agriculture and habitation.

Highly placed sources told DT Next that the government is not considering reversing the acquisition of the 1,700 acres or the compensation already paid to landowners. The parcels were acquired under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act and, according to the sources, could be put to other industrial uses.

“The acquired land need not necessarily be used only for an airport. Since it was acquired under the Industrial Purposes Act, it can be utilised for other industrial purposes. With the airport project shelved, options such as agriculture-linked and non-hazardous industries are being considered,” a senior official said.

The Industries department is expected to work out a detailed roadmap in consultation with the relevant departments. Sources said that the agro-processing and other agriculture-linked activities were among the options being examined, while the possibility of establishing a SIPCOT industrial estate was also under consideration.

“A clear roadmap will be prepared for the acquired land, and the government will announce it at the appropriate time,” the official added.

The Parandur airport proposal had envisaged a major greenfield facility to meet the city’s long-term aviation requirements, but the project faced sustained opposition from residents over agricultural land, water resources and the impact on established settlements. The government is now pursuing a parallel exercise to identify an alternative location.

Sources said that the Chief Minister had held several rounds of discussions on possible sites, but no location has been finalised. “Every possible location is being reviewed. Nothing has been finalised so far, and the government will soon arrive at a solution,” another source said.

Survey done in 2021, officially announced following year

The proposed airport was planned across nearly 5,300 acres covering 13 villages around Parandur. The Centre and the State government led by the DMK had decided to develop the second greenfield airport for Chennai, with survey work beginning in 2021. The project was officially announced in August 2022.

However, since the day the project was officially announced, the proposal has been facing strong opposition from villagers, who feared that the airport would severely affect agricultural lands and water bodies. Villagers also claimed that some settlements, particularly Eganapuram, could be completely destroyed if the project was implemented.

Residents of Eganapuram had conducted night-time protests for more than 1,100 days. They also protested by not sending their kids to the government schools. Village panchayats passed resolutions opposing the project on 16 occasions, while residents boycotted village sabha meetings seven times to register their opposition.

Despite the protests, the previous government had proceeded with land acquisition. Plans were also made to provide alternative housing for families that would lose their homes, and model houses were also constructed. The Union government was aiming to complete the construction of the airport by 2028.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who was then the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, openly supported the villagers. During his first public visit to Eganapuram in January 2025, he assured residents that the project would be cancelled if his party came to power.

Since the formation of the new government, work related to the project had stalled, while ministers indicated that the project would be cancelled and an alternative location would be considered.

With his announcement in the Assembly on Monday, it’s official: Parandur project dropped, alternative site to be identified for the proposed project and that the existing airport would be expanded.