Air passengers disappointed over TVK-led government’s decision to shelve Parandur project

Many air passengers, who were looking forward to a better-maintained airport and improved connectivity, were left utterly disappointed with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announcing that the government would drop the Parandur airport project.Dheeraj S., a frequent flyer, said the experience at the Chennai airport was underwhelming compared to airports such as Bengaluru or Hyderabad. The airport also lacked direct connectivity to the U.S., many cities in Europe, or even Vietnam, forcing people to go to other airports to take a flight to these destinations, he added. He said there were a lot of expectations in the last couple of years for the Parandur airport, since many of the issues that passengers face may not exist at the new airport. Now that it has been scrapped, air passengers were irked they will have to wait another five or seven years at least for a second airport, he added.Sathish G., another frequent flyer, said this was a setback to the city. “If the government is looking for a new location, how long will it take to finalise and start building the airport? Every location is bound to have its own set of drawbacks. What if the new site too draws objections and concerns? How long can the people of Chennai be kept waiting for a second airport?” he asked.Mr. Dheeraj also said the State risked losing out on the economic impact, flurry of industrial activity, and, of course, employment generation that a new airport drew for a city.Social media too was abuzz, with many feeling that it was not the right decision.Economic growthP. Ravichandran, Chairman, CII-Southern Region, in a statement, said an airport was far more than a piece of transport infrastructure; for a capital city and economic powerhouse such as Chennai, it was a strategic enabler of economic growth, global competitiveness, trade, tourism, investment, and job creation.The foremost priority must be to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to significantly enhance the capacity, efficiency, and passenger experience at the Chennai International Airport, the CII said.“Chennai’s rapidly expanding industrial, manufacturing, logistics, and services sectors require a second airport to sustain long-term economic growth and attract future investments. In light of the decision to move away from the Parandur airport project, it is critical that the government swiftly identify, evaluate, and finalise an alternative site based on technical, environmental, and economic considerations,” the statement said.Once selected, the project must be given high priority and carried out with urgency to prevent delays, which will ensure Chennai retains its competitive advantage among India’s leading industrial and investment destinations, the CII statement added. Published - August 25, 2026 12:05 am IST