Cheyyur, Gummidipoondi in Race for Chennai’s Second Airport; AAI to Conduct Site Study

The Tamil Nadu government has identified Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi as the two possible locations for Chennai’s second airport and has asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to carry out a pre-feasibility assessment of both sites.

The proposed airport is aimed at meeting Chennai’s rapidly growing passenger and cargo demand and supporting the long-term expansion of the city and surrounding districts. The fresh site search comes amid mounting controversy over the proposed Greenfield airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district.

The state had earlier said it would explore alternative locations in consultation with experts. Officials have maintained that Chennai needs additional airport capacity to keep pace with future passenger traffic, cargo movement and industrial growth.

CHENNAI’S EXISTING AIRPORT TO GET A BOOST

The search for a second airport is being pursued alongside plans to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam.

The AAI has proposed a new passenger-handling system on the airport’s north-western side to increase its ability to handle rising passenger and cargo volumes.

The authority has also sought the state government’s approval to construct a road linking the proposed facility with the national highway. Tamil Nadu has assured the AAI of the required assistance to take the expansion forward.

The Industries Policy Note, cited by news agency ANI, said the expansion would improve the existing airport’s services while the state simultaneously works towards establishing a new airport.

PARANDUR PROJECT TRIGGERS FRESH SITE SEARCH

The latest move follows Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s announcement in the Assembly under Rule 110 that the Parandur airport proposal would be abandoned and an alternative site identified.

The Chief Minister cited concerns over environmental damage, agricultural land acquisition and the impact on local livelihoods.

Vijay said the new location should minimise the impact on farms and residential areas while still meeting Chennai’s long-term aviation requirements. He stressed that a second airport was essential for passenger and cargo growth as well as industrial development, but said infrastructure expansion should not come at the expense of affected communities.

He also recalled visiting Eganapuram and nearby villages on January 20, 2025, and meeting residents who had opposed the Parandur project and its proposed impact on 12 surrounding villages.

PARANDUR DECISION FACES POLITICAL BACKLASH

The decision to drop Parandur has drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the DMK and BJP.

DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin termed the move an “irreversible setback” for Tamil Nadu’s growth.

The Parandur project had received in-principle approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry in April 2025 for an international Greenfield Airport in Kancheepuram district.

With Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi now emerging as the leading alternatives, the AAI’s pre-feasibility study will be crucial in determining which site, if either, can meet the technical, operational and connectivity requirements for Chennai’s proposed second international airport.