A special meeting will soon be held in New Delhi to discuss the ‘in principle approval’ requested by the Tamil Nadu government for the development of Chennai’s second airport at Parandur, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said on Thursday (February 27).
The proposed greenfield airport project has faced strong opposition from villagers and farmers in Parandur and nearby areas, as they fear losing their fertile lands and homes to the project.
Addressing reporters at Chennai airport, the Minister clarified that the site selection for the airport was entirely the responsibility of the state government, while the Central government focuses on project development, aiming to boost the number of airports across the country.
“We do not choose the location for airports — that is the state government’s role. They propose, select, and seek site clearance from us. Our job is to conduct feasibility studies and assess operational, navigational, and technical aspects,” Naidu explained.
He further emphasised that land-related issues are for the state government to handle. “Wherever they identify land, we conduct feasibility assessments and advise if it is suitable for airport development,” he added.
The Parandur airport project has been under discussion for a while now, with the initial site clearance already granted. The ‘in principle approval’ is now under review, with the upcoming special meeting in Delhi expected to advance the process, Naidu said.
The feasibility study also took into account the presence of nearby airports and evaluated how the airspace can be shared between civil and defence aviation. Necessary clearances were obtained from all relevant operators before granting the initial site approval, he added.
Udaan Yatri Cafe
During his first visit to Chennai airport after taking charge as Union Minister, Naidu also inaugurated the Udaan Yatri Cafe — the second of its kind in India, after the successful launch at Kolkata airport.
The Udaan Yatri Cafe in Kolkata has been a hit, recording daily sales of around Rs 35,000. The cafe offers affordable items such as water bottles for Rs 10, tea/coffee for Rs 10, samosas for Rs 20, and a daily sweet for rs 20, ensuring budget-friendly options for passengers.
“We believe no passenger should go hungry at the airport because of high prices. Our goal is to set up Udaan Yatri Cafes at airports across the country,” Naidu said.