Parandur near Sriperumbudur to host Chennai’s second airport

CHENNAI: Bringing an end to the years-long hunt for the location to set up the second airport for Chennai, the State government has finalised Parandur near Sriperumbudur – around 70 km from the city – as the site for the greenfield facility.

This was disclosed by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh on Monday while replying to a query raised by DMK's NVN Kanimozhi at the Rajya Sabha.

The State government had originally considered four sites - Cheyyur and Mamandur in Chengalpattu district, Parandur in Kancheepuram district and Pannur in Tiruvallur district. After conducting inspection to assess the suitability of the sites, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) found Parandur and Pannur comparatively more feasible for airport development.

The AAI then forwarded its pre-feasibility report to Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), advising it to carry out Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) Survey and charting work at two identified sites.

“After comparing the viability and feasibility, including the presence of habitation and industrial establishments, and the land acquisition cost of both the sites, the State government has shortlisted Parandur site as the location for development of greenfield airport. As per the provisions of the Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008, State government is now required to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for grant of Site Clearance for the finalised site,” Minister Singh told the DMK MP.

Under the policy, the State government will now have to send a proposal to the Ministry for a two-stage approval process. First is site clearance, followed by in-principle approval.

The process to select the site for the second airport had entered the last leg a week ago, with State Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu meeting Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in the national capital on July 26.