Sources say it will be difficult to acquire land from Eganapuram residents, who have been against the project.
| Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B.
Land acquisition for Chennai’s second airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district is gradually gaining pace, with the State government acquiring nearly 540 acres for this project so far.
Three years after the ₹27,400-crore project was announced by the Tamil Nadu government, the Ministry of Civil Aviation gave the in-principle approval in April.
This massive project requires 5,746 acres of land, including 3,774 acres of private patta land in several villages, including Parandur, Eganapuram, Nelvoy, Ciruvallur Thandalam, Thodur, Valathur, Gunakara Pakkam, Magadevi Mangalam, and Podavur.
Subsequently, a Government Order was passed in June to begin the land acquisition under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997.
The following month, some of the landowners from Nelvoy, Parandur, Valathur, Podavur and Akkamapuram came forward to part with their land parcels.
Sources in the State government said 540 acres of land has so far been acquired for the project in 12 villages. Of this, 50% belongs to the residents of these villages, and the remaining 50% to those who possess land in the project site but live elsewhere. The maximum land acquired has been from Parandur as on date.
Sources say they have been consciously taking the acquisition process slow, with elections scheduled to be held early next year. They say acquiring land in Eganapuram will be difficult, as its residents have been staunchly opposing the project ever since the beginning.
The airport project has run into delays now, and tenders for phase I construction work may be floated only next year. As a result, completion of phase I of the Parandur project may get pushed to 2030 from the end of 2028. Following this, the next three phases of this project will take off and likely be completed by 2046.
Published – September 14, 2025 12:36 am IST
