Environmental Clearance Application for Parandur Airport to be Considered on June 28; Construction Work to Start in 2026!!

The application for environmental clearance for Chennai's second green airport, located in Parandur, is set to be considered on June 28. The proposed airport will cover 5,476 acres and will be situated near Kanchipuram, Parandur, and 20 surrounding villages. Both central and state governments are actively involved in this project. However, concerns have been raised by 13 villages, including Ekanapuram, about potential impacts on residences, agricultural land, and water bodies, leading to continuous protests.

In response, the Tamil Nadu government formed a committee headed by retired IAS officer Machendranathan to evaluate the proposed airport site. The committee inspected the surrounding villages and submitted a report, which led to the Tamil Nadu Industry Department granting permission to acquire the necessary land. An ordinance issued last year specified that 5,746 acres of land would be needed for the project, with 3,774 acres being privately leased and 1,972 acres being government land. Consequently, the first stage notification for land acquisition was released.

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has since applied to the Union Ministry of Environment for environmental clearance to establish the new airport at Parandur. The Central Environmental Expert Appraisal Committee is set to review this application on June 28. The projected cost for constructing the Parandur airport in four phases is estimated at ₹32,704 crore.

Construction for the first phase is expected to begin in January 2026, with the airport slated to open in 2029. Despite the planned progress, the ongoing protests highlight the significant concerns of the local residents regarding the potential disruption to their lives and the environment.