Tamil Nadu Government Scraps Parandur Airport Project: CM Vijay Declares, "I Stand Firmly with Protesting Farmers"

Political dynamics in Tamil Nadu have hit a fever pitch as Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially announced the complete cancellation of the controversial greenfield airport project in Parandur. Delivering a decisive statement in the Assembly, the administration chose to scrap the mega-project to protect local agricultural lands and prevent the mass displacement of residents, fulfilling a major promise made to the public during election campaigns by the ruling Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).

"Development Cannot Come at the Cost of Farmers' Welfare"

Making a suo motu announcement in the House, Chief Minister Vijay emphasized that while industrial progress and aviation expansion are vital for the state's economic trajectory, progress must never be achieved by sacrificing the livelihoods of farmers. Recalling his solidarity visits to Ekanapuram and surrounding villages where residents protested tirelessly against the land acquisition, Vijay stated, "I stand firmly with the people protesting against the proposed airport." The government has instead turned its focus toward alternative infrastructural enhancements, including plans to develop Terminal 5 at the existing Chennai airport in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), alongside exploring alternative, less disruptive sites for future aviation needs.

Political Backlash: DMK Warns of Assembly Motions

Despite bringing relief to local farming communities who feared losing multi-crop fertile lands and water bodies, the decision has intensified political crossfire between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK. The main opposition party, led by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, criticized the move and challenged the government's approach regarding previous administrative files. Senior DMK leaders warned that if official documentation concerning the initial project stages is not made completely transparent within a week, the opposition would move a breach of privilege motion in the Assembly, accusing the administration of political posturing over infrastructure development.