Chennai's Second Airport To Be Built At Parandur, Govt Informs Rajya Sabha

Chennai will soon get a second airport in Parandur as the ministry of civil aviation decided to go along with the choice of the Tamil Nadu government.

Parandur, located near Sriperumbudur, is around 70 km from the city. The Airports Authority of India chose both Pannur and Parandur for the city's second airport.

A greenfield airport for Chennai requires at least 2,000 to 3,000 acres of land. In Pannur, 4,500 acres of land have been identified, while in Parandur, the site spans 4,791.29 acres.

In Rajya Sabha on Monday (1 August), Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh stated that after comparing the viability and feasibility, including the presence of habitations and industrial establishments and the land acquisitions cost of both sides, the state government had shortlisted Parandur as the location for the development of Greenfield airport.

He added that the state government is now required to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for grant of 'Site Clearance' for the finalised site, reports The Hindu.

To put Chennai back on top as one of the three busiest airports in the nation, a position it held until a few years ago, an expansive airport was necessary not only to handle passenger traffic but also to cope with increased air traffic with numerous parking bays and other crucial airside facilities.

Recently (26 July), Thengam Thennarasu, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss several key issues, including the location of Chennai's second airport.