PARANDUR- The Centre has granted in-principle approval for the ₹20,000 crore Parandur Greenfield Airport near Chennai International Airport (MAA), but with strict conditions.
Airlines like Air India (AI), IndiGo (6E), and SpiceJet (SG) operate heavily out of Chennai, increasing pressure on infrastructure.
According to Businessline, the Tamil Nadu government must meet land acquisition targets and compensate the Airports Authority of India (AAI) if Parandur Airport opens before Chennai reaches its 35 million passengers per annum (MPPA) capacity.
The new airport aims to handle up to 100 million passengers annually across multiple phases.
Chennai’s New ₹20,000 Cr Parandur Airport
The upcoming Parandur Greenfield Airport project, associated with Chennai International Airport (MAA) and proposed under the Tamil Nadu government’s infrastructure expansion, has received conditional approval from the Centre.
During the Steering Committee meeting held on March 12, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) mandated that the State government must compensate AAI if Parandur becomes operational before Chennai airport reaches its full capacity of 35 million passengers per annum (MPPA).
If Chennai’s traffic exceeds 35 MPPA before Parandur begins operation, no compensation would be required.
This clause aims to protect AAI’s revenue from the existing Chennai Airport, operated under the IATA Code MAA.
The State government has accepted this condition, as noted in the official minutes. The Civil Aviation Secretary emphasized that both airports, Chennai (MAA) and Parandur, must be developed in tandem to meet the rising regional demand for air connectivity.
AAI has also requested land rights to expand Chennai Airport’s infrastructure. This includes land for a new terminal and 90 acres near the current premises for developing a cargo complex.
The area includes existing residential colonies and a school. The Tamil Nadu government will handle the land allocation process.
Infrastructure, Land, and Environmental Conditions
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) advised revisiting the planned phased passenger capacity and urged the State government to optimize aeronautical infrastructure.
These recommendations are aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and long-term feasibility.
For Phase I, the Centre has made it mandatory that 100% land be targeted for acquisition, with at least 90% land secured by the time of awarding the contract.
Environmental planning has also been highlighted due to the presence of water bodies around the proposed site.
A high-level steering committee has been constituted to examine the water channels and mitigate future risks such as waterlogging and flooding near the aerodrome.
Passenger Capacity Projections
The Parandur Greenfield Airport is expected to feature two parallel runways, passenger terminals, taxiways, an apron, and a cargo terminal. Once operational, it aims to handle up to 100 million passengers annually.
Currently, Chennai International Airport (MAA) handles around 22 million passengers per year.
Post modernisation, its capacity is projected to expand to 35 million passengers annually, sufficient for the next seven years.
The Ministry of Defence has also granted a No Objection Certificate for site clearance, facilitating the approval process for the Parandur project.
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