Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has announced that the proposed second airport for Chennai will no longer be built at Parandur, following years of opposition from residents in the area.

Parandur, located around 60 kilometres west of Chennai, had been selected for a major greenfield airport project. However, residents of Parandur and surrounding villages have strongly opposed the proposal, citing concerns about relocation, agriculture and their livelihoods.

Vijay said a new location would be identified where local residents do not oppose the airport project.

New Airport Site to Be Selected

According to the chief minister, the government will examine possible locations before making a final decision.

Expert teams will study technical feasibility and other requirements before selecting the new site. Vijay said the decision was aimed at avoiding the displacement of large numbers of people and protecting agricultural land.

He also criticised the previous DMK government for selecting a heavily populated area for the proposed airport.

Read more: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Reviews Chennai Metro Phase II Progress, Rides Driverless Train

Parandur Project Faced Years of Opposition

The proposal for a second airport at Parandur was announced by the previous Tamil Nadu government in August 2022.

The project was estimated to cost around ₹20,000 crore and was planned with an annual passenger-handling capacity of approximately 10 crore.

Residents from Parandur and nearby villages began protesting against the project soon after it was announced. They argued that the airport could affect agricultural land, homes and local livelihoods.

The protests continued for more than a year and became a major point of opposition to the airport plan.

Vijay Had Earlier Supported Villagers

Vijay had previously supported the residents opposing the Parandur airport project.

In January 2025, when he was serving as the president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Vijay visited the protest site and expressed support for villagers campaigning against the proposed airport.

His latest announcement marks a major change in the state government's approach to the second airport project.

New Location Could Shape Chennai’s Air Connectivity

Chennai currently has a major international airport, but the state has long considered developing additional airport infrastructure to meet future passenger and cargo demand.

The government will now have to identify a suitable alternative location that meets aviation requirements while limiting environmental and social disruption.

Technical feasibility, land availability, connectivity and public acceptance are expected to be important factors in choosing the new site.

Tamil Nadu Announces LPG Support Scheme

Vijay also announced a major LPG support programme in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Under the proposed Annapooranai Super Six scheme, eligible households will receive financial support for three LPG cylinders every year from Pongal, beginning January 14.

The state government plans to allocate ₹4,000 crore annually for the programme, which is expected to benefit around 1.3 crore families.

Families with annual incomes below ₹2.5 lakh, small and marginal farmers, households with differently abled members and other vulnerable groups are expected to benefit from the scheme.