Centre grants in-principle nod to Chennai's 2nd airport in Parandur

TIDCO preparing to initiate land acquisition process for ₹20,000-cr project; over 1k families likely to be displaced

- C SHIVAKUMAR @Chennai

THE Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for Chennai's second airport in Parandur. However, the ₹20,000-crore greenfield project faces significant local resistance, with land acquisition protests intensifying ahead of a key milestone - the 1,000th day of demonstrations in Ekanapuram village on April 20.

Announcing the decision, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu framed the project as part of the Union government's broader strategy to meet surging air travel demand in metropolitan hubs.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, growing passenger demand is being addressed through the development of second airports in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai," Naidu said in a post on X.