Ministry of Defence (MoD) has Approved Airport Project in Chennai

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted 'No Objection' for the site clearance of the proposed greenfield airport in Parandur, Tamil Nadu. The state government has given administrative approval for the new airport, located approximately 60 km from Chennai in the Kanchipuram district.

A planned investment of Rs 20,000 crore aims to develop the greenfield airport to accommodate 10 crore people annually. The airport will feature two runways, terminal buildings, taxiways, an apron, and a cargo terminal. Currently, Chennai airport handles around 2.2 crore people annually, with ongoing modernization efforts expected to increase the capacity to 3.5 crore people per year for the next seven years.

However, on April 11, 2023, the Defence Ministry advised reconsideration of the proposed greenfield airport due to its close proximity to Tambaram, Arakkonam, and Chennai International Airport. The Defense Ministry expressed concerns about potential restrictions on military operations and adverse aerospace safety implications for all users.

These directions were conveyed to the project proponent, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), on April 21, along with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). TIDCO and AAI submitted suggestions to the MoD for consideration.

News by Rahul Yelligetti