In a significant move to address the burgeoning air passenger traffic in the Chennai region, the Tamil Nadu state government has granted administrative approval for the establishment of a new greenfield airport in Parandur. This decision comes in the wake of projections indicating that the air passenger traffic for the Chennai region is set to surpass 50 million by 2037, leading to concerns about the saturation of the existing Chennai International Airport by 2028.
The official approval encompasses the acquisition of 1500 hectares of patta land under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Lands for Industrial Purposes Act. Additionally, approximately 800 hectares of government land in Parandur and 19 other adjacent villages will be alienated for the development of the new airport, according to a report by Times of India.
The decision to establish a new airport follows a thorough feasibility study conducted by the Airports Authority of India, complemented by a detailed analysis undertaken by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), a state government entity. The findings of these studies underscored the urgency of expanding airport infrastructure to meet the growing demands of air travel in the region.
The establishment of the new airport is expected to alleviate the strain on the existing infrastructure and contribute to the sustained growth of the aviation sector in the state.
The development is anticipated to not only boost the regional economy but also create employment opportunities in the construction and subsequent operational phases of the project.
