The process for a second airport in Tamil Nadu’s capital is moving forward, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation supporting the state government’s choice of location. In response to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi N.V.N. Somu, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen V.K. Singh (retd) stated that the Tamil Nadu government has shortlisted Parandur as the site for the Greenfield airport.
4 locations chosen for Chennai’s second airport
The state government will be required to submit a proposal to the Ministry for site clearance for the airport. The Tamil Nadu state government had chosen four locations for Chennai’s second airport: Pannur, Parandur, Tiruporur, and Padalam. A team from the Airports Authority of India visited all four shortlisted sites and submitted a report to the Ministry.
After several rounds of technical and other feasibility studies, two sites — Pannur and Parandur — were finally shortlisted, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation met with the Tamil Nadu government.
State Industries Minister Thangam Thenarasu, who was present at the discussions, told reporters that the Central government had expressed its willingness to follow the state government’s recommendations.
Recommended Pannur as best location for Chennai’s second airport
The AAI had recommended Pannur as the best location for Chennai’s second airport in its pre-feasibility study, but the state government had chosen Parandur after conducting its own Obstacle Limitation Surface survey and Techno-Economic Feasibility studies.
The state government chose Parandur based on the ease of land acquisition, as well as safety and environmental clearances.
