In light of protecting agricultural lands and local livelihoods, the Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to move away from the highly debated project of Parandur airport to seek a better site.
Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay said while addressing the Assembly that all the efforts put forth in setting up the Greenfield International Airport of Parandur in Kancheepuram district have been scrapped. Agricultural safeguarding : Highlighting the fact that agriculture forms the backbone of the nation, the Chief Minister said that no future developments should happen at such high costs involving local communities and farmlands.
Earlier reporting noted: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay drops Parandur airport plan, sparks political slugfest Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced that his government would drop the Parandur airport project, triggering a political slugfest in the state, with the main Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( DMK ) slamming the move and staging a walkout from the state assembly. In order to overcome current capacity issues without affecting the community, the state is now diverting attention to the already existing hub. As per the state’s Industries Policy Note, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has designed a plan for structural improvements. the administration believes that a second international airport is necessary for sustainable industrial development While the optimisation process is taking place at the existing Chennai International Airport. Technical suitability check : The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will conduct a thorough study before signing an agreement with the government. He added that facilities will be enhanced and the traffic managed better until the new airport is constructed.
Earlier reporting noted: The move comes four years after former CM and DMK chief MK Stalin announced the airport, the second one near Chennai, in August 2022, about 60 km away from the state’s capital. Earlier reporting noted: Speaking in the assembly, the CM said the existing airport at Meenambakkam has capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually and it would be expanded with a new passenger terminal having capacity to handle an additional 20 million passengers annually.
Political repercussions : The reversal was criticized heavily by the opposition leaders, including former Chief Minister M.K.
Stalin, who termed it as an “irreversible blow” to regional economic development.
