Tamil Nadu Scraps Parandur Airport Project; DMK Threatens Privilege Motion

The Tamil Nadu government has abandoned the proposed Parandur airport project, fulfilling a key promise made by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during the election campaign. The decision comes after sustained protests from farmers and environmentalists concerned about the loss of fertile agricultural land.

"We are dropping Parandur airport. I stand firm with the protesters against the proposed airport," Vijay said in an announcement. He recalled his opposition to the project dating back to October 2024, when he had stated that while airports are necessary for industrial development, they cannot be built at the cost of farmers' welfare.

The project, initiated during the previous DMK government's tenure, had received in-principle approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry in April 2025. The proposed site in Parandur, located approximately 70 km from Chennai in Kancheepuram district, was earmarked for a greenfield airport. However, the newly elected TVK government had already announced a review of the site in June, with party leader CTR Nirmal Kumar stating that alternative locations were being explored to protect local waterbodies and fertile lands.

The scrapping of the project has intensified political tensions. The DMK, led by former Chief Minister MK Stalin, has challenged Vijay to "open our files" instead of raising suspicions about the project's origins. DMK leader Duraimurugan said on Monday that if the Chief Minister does not open the files within a week, the Opposition will move a privilege motion in the assembly, alleging that Vijay provided incorrect information to the House.

"We are giving him permission to open it. If he doesn't do that in one week, the Opposition will consider moving a privilege motion to show the chief minister gave incorrect information in the assembly," Duraimurugan told reporters.

The privilege motion threat adds a new dimension to the political rivalry between the TVK and the DMK, which was voted out of power months ago. The DMK had defended the project as necessary for the region's economic growth and had argued that all environmental concerns were being addressed.

Vijay, meanwhile, has maintained that his government is committed to protecting agricultural land and the environment. The decision is expected to be welcomed by the protesters who had mobilised against the project, though it remains to be seen how the DMK's threat will play out in the assembly.

The airport project was a flashpoint during the assembly elections, with Vijay campaigning heavily against it. His party argued that the project would destroy multi-crop farmland and pose environmental risks. The government's decision to scrap it fulfils a pre-election promise and signals its responsiveness to public protest.

The political developments underscore the challenges of balancing industrial development with environmental and agricultural concerns. While the airport project has been dropped, the political controversy surrounding it is far from over.