The Tamil Nadu government has decided to shelve the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in the Kancheepuram district [1, 2].
The decision halts a major infrastructure expansion intended to increase aviation capacity in the region. By canceling the project, the state seeks to prevent the loss of agricultural land, and the degradation of local water bodies [2].
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the project is currently in "suspended animation" [1]. This status persists because the state government has not submitted a formal request to the central government to relocate the airport [1].
The Civil Aviation Ministry had previously approved the project in April 2025 [1]. Phase I of the airport's development carried an estimated cost of ₹10,500 crore [1].
Tamil Nadu Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar said the government will not proceed with the Parandur airport to save farms and water bodies [2]. The move follows concerns over the environmental impact on the Kancheepuram district's ecosystem.
While the central government views the project as suspended pending further requests, the state's stance indicates a definitive shift away from the original plan [1, 2]. The lack of a relocation request from the state effectively freezes the development of the site.
“The project is currently in "suspended animation".”
The cancellation of the Parandur project highlights a tension between rapid industrial infrastructure growth and environmental preservation. By prioritizing water bodies and farmland over a ₹10,500 crore aviation hub, the Tamil Nadu government is responding to local ecological concerns and potential grassroots opposition, effectively stalling the central government's regional aviation strategy.
