'Could set Tamil Nadu back 10 years': Annamalai's warning as Vijay scraps Parandur airport project
The Parandur project was conceived as a second airport for Chennai because the existing Chennai International Airport faces land constraints and cannot accommodate the city's projected growth indefinitely
- Aug 24, 2026,
- Updated Aug 24, 2026 1:38 PM IST
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has urged the state government to identify a site for Chennai's second airport at the earliest, after Chief Minister Vijay announced the cancellation of the proposed Parandur airport project.
Annamalai said the delay in finding a new location could set Tamil Nadu's development back by at least 10 years.
"Today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay announced in the assembly that the TN Government has decided to cancel the Parandur Airport Project," Annamalai said in a statement on Monday.
He said the chief minister had mentioned that some sites were under consideration, but should have also proposed a new location for the second airport.
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Why Chennai Needs A Second Airport
The Parandur project was conceived as a second airport for Chennai because the existing Chennai International Airport faces land constraints and cannot accommodate the city's projected growth indefinitely.
The Centre has previously said the existing airport has space limitations and that Tamil Nadu sought a greenfield airport to cater to further growth in air traffic.
The state had selected Parandur after a feasibility study by the Airports Authority of India. The proposed greenfield airport was planned across 5,746 acres, with the first phase aimed at handling 20 million passengers a year and the eventual capacity rising to 100 million.
'Could Take At Least 10 Years'
Annamalai said cancelling Parandur without immediately identifying another site would create a long delay.
"Even if the TN Government chooses to move forward with a second airport instead of Parandur through an administrative decision soon, finding a site, taking approval from the Central Government and statutory bodies, issuing tenders, acquiring land, and securing licenses could take at least ten years before the airport becomes operational," he said. "Meanwhile, other States would be advancing, leaving us behind."
He said the state should first recognise that the existing Chennai airport is already inadequate by current standards.
Chennai's airport occupies about 1,300 acres, Annamalai said, compared with approximately 5,500 acres for Hyderabad, 4,000 acres for Bengaluru, 2,866 acres for Navi Mumbai, and 5,100 acres for Delhi.
Despite the smaller footprint, he said, the existing airport should offer a better passenger experience. "Taking local transport from the arrivals area is a nightmare today," he said.
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Chennai Has Fallen Behind
The firebrand leader said Chennai was once the gateway to South India but had now fallen behind other major airports in passenger-handling capacity.
He said Chennai airport has a capacity of 30 million passengers a year and ranks fifth, behind Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Annamalai also said the airport is not classified as a Code F airport because of inadequate taxiways and aerobridges. As a result, large aircraft such as the A380 cannot operate at Chennai, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad can handle such aircraft.
What Happens To Acquired Land?
The former BJP leader said the government should move quickly on an alternative site rather than allow the airport project to remain in limbo. "Parties may come and go. Governments will change. But 20 years later, when the people of Tamil Nadu look back, they should not feel suffocated by a sick building that we would still call an airport, because the administrators of the day lacked the ability to forecast," he said.
He also raised a question over land already acquired for the Parandur project.
The Tamil Nadu government had reportedly acquired about 1,700 acres for the project out of the 5,746 acres required. Annamalai asked: "What does the State govt now intend to do with this acquired land?"
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has urged the state government to identify a site for Chennai's second airport at the earliest, after Chief Minister Vijay announced the cancellation of the proposed Parandur airport project.
Annamalai said the delay in finding a new location could set Tamil Nadu's development back by at least 10 years.
"Today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay announced in the assembly that the TN Government has decided to cancel the Parandur Airport Project," Annamalai said in a statement on Monday.
He said the chief minister had mentioned that some sites were under consideration, but should have also proposed a new location for the second airport.
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Why Chennai Needs A Second Airport
The Parandur project was conceived as a second airport for Chennai because the existing Chennai International Airport faces land constraints and cannot accommodate the city's projected growth indefinitely.
The Centre has previously said the existing airport has space limitations and that Tamil Nadu sought a greenfield airport to cater to further growth in air traffic.
The state had selected Parandur after a feasibility study by the Airports Authority of India. The proposed greenfield airport was planned across 5,746 acres, with the first phase aimed at handling 20 million passengers a year and the eventual capacity rising to 100 million.
'Could Take At Least 10 Years'
Annamalai said cancelling Parandur without immediately identifying another site would create a long delay.
"Even if the TN Government chooses to move forward with a second airport instead of Parandur through an administrative decision soon, finding a site, taking approval from the Central Government and statutory bodies, issuing tenders, acquiring land, and securing licenses could take at least ten years before the airport becomes operational," he said. "Meanwhile, other States would be advancing, leaving us behind."
He said the state should first recognise that the existing Chennai airport is already inadequate by current standards.
Chennai's airport occupies about 1,300 acres, Annamalai said, compared with approximately 5,500 acres for Hyderabad, 4,000 acres for Bengaluru, 2,866 acres for Navi Mumbai, and 5,100 acres for Delhi.
Despite the smaller footprint, he said, the existing airport should offer a better passenger experience. "Taking local transport from the arrivals area is a nightmare today," he said.
Must Watch: Vijay For PM? TVK Ministers Pitch Tamil Superstar For Top Job | 2029 Battle
Chennai Has Fallen Behind
The firebrand leader said Chennai was once the gateway to South India but had now fallen behind other major airports in passenger-handling capacity.
He said Chennai airport has a capacity of 30 million passengers a year and ranks fifth, behind Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Annamalai also said the airport is not classified as a Code F airport because of inadequate taxiways and aerobridges. As a result, large aircraft such as the A380 cannot operate at Chennai, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad can handle such aircraft.
What Happens To Acquired Land?
The former BJP leader said the government should move quickly on an alternative site rather than allow the airport project to remain in limbo. "Parties may come and go. Governments will change. But 20 years later, when the people of Tamil Nadu look back, they should not feel suffocated by a sick building that we would still call an airport, because the administrators of the day lacked the ability to forecast," he said.
He also raised a question over land already acquired for the Parandur project.
The Tamil Nadu government had reportedly acquired about 1,700 acres for the project out of the 5,746 acres required. Annamalai asked: "What does the State govt now intend to do with this acquired land?"