Chennai's Second Airport Project Land Acquisition Likely To Be Completed By December 2025: Report

The Tamil Nadu government is pushing ahead with plans to complete land acquisition for the greenfield airport at Parandur by December 2025, according to a ET Now report.

The proposed project involves acquiring a total of 5,746 acres—3,774 acres from private owners and 1,972 acres of government land.

“The aim is to begin construction by early-to-mid-2026 and complete phase one of the proposed greenfield airport in two years,” a top government official was quoted as saying by ET Now.

Once operational, this phase is expected to handle 20 million passengers annually, offering a significant boost to Chennai’s air infrastructure.

Demand for a second airport has grown louder with Chennai’s current airport nearing saturation.

Passenger traffic is projected to double by 2035, reaching 40 million, far outstripping the existing capacity.

The Parandur airport, located around 70 km from the city, has long been on the state's infrastructure wish list.

However, the project has met stiff resistance from environmental activists, local farmers, and opposition political parties.

Critics argue that the construction threatens the area’s sensitive water bodies, raising concerns about potential ecological damage and heightened flood risk.

Farmer groups have protested over fears of losing livelihood, while political figures such as actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay have voiced opposition.

Despite the backlash, the government is offering substantial compensation, ranging from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 2.5 crore per acre, depending on location.

So far, 17.52 acres have been acquired, and Rs 9.2 crore disbursed to 19 landowners.

With a large portion of land yet to be secured, convincing residents remains the government’s biggest hurdle.

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