Parandur Airport: Tamil Nadu Fast-Tracks Greenfield Project, Aims for Land Acquisition by Year-End

The Tamil Nadu government is speeding up its efforts to secure land for a new greenfield airport in Parandur. The goal is to complete this process by the end of the year even as this project has sparked both enthusiasm and strong opposition among various groups.

The state plans to acquire 3,774 acres of private land and consolidate 1,972 acres of government land by December 2025, ET Now reported citing sources. This timeline sets the groundwork for the project, which aims to address Chennai's growing air passenger numbers. By 2035, these numbers are expected to reach 40 million, double the current airport's capacity.

"The aim is to begin construction by early-to-mid-2026 and complete phase one of the proposed greenfield airport in two years," the publication quoted the source as saying.

Compensation Plan for Landowners

On the other hand, Tamil Nadu government offers flat rates between ₹35 lakh and ₹60 lakh per acre for over 1,960 acres for landowners in Kancheepuram and Sriperumbudur taluks, according to a recent report in DT Next.

This includes a 275% increase over negotiable values and an extra 25% incentive. Some high-value parcels could fetch up to ₹2.57 crore per acre.

The proposed airport site in Parandur is about 70 kilometers from Chennai. This location choice has faced criticism from social and environmental activists. Local farmers have also protested due to concerns about losing their livelihoods if the airport is constructed.

Environmental Concerns

Experts caution against building major infrastructure on Parandur's ecologically sensitive water bodies. They warn it could harm the local ecosystem and worsen natural disasters like floods. Despite these concerns, the state remains committed to moving forward with the project.

A senior government official told the website that construction might start by early-to-mid-2026 if everything goes as planned. The first phase of this greenfield airport could be completed within two years after construction begins.

If this schedule holds, construction might begin before next year's state assembly elections. The first phase could become operational by 2028 with a capacity of handling 20 million air passengers annually.