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• Planned as Chennai's second international airport, the proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport is expected to expand the city's aviation capacity and support long-term economic and industrial growth.
• Despite the project's strategic importance, residents of Ekanapuram and nearby villages have continued to oppose it, citing concerns over land acquisition, displacement, loss of fertile farmland and the impact on local water resources.
• The Tamil Nadu government has initiated land acquisition and announced compensation and rehabilitation measures, while maintaining that the airport is critical to meeting the region's future connectivity needs.
• As the protest stretches beyond 1,000 days, the project has become a prominent example of the challenges involved in balancing infrastructure development with environmental sustainability and community interests.
The proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport, envisaged as Chennai's second international airport, has emerged as one of Tamil Nadu's most closely watched infrastructure projects. While the state government views the airport as essential to accommodating future air traffic demand and supporting economic growth, the project has also sparked an extended standoff with local communities, particularly residents of Ekanapuram village, who continue to oppose the acquisition of their land and the potential impact on their livelihoods.
The Tamil Nadu government selected Parandur, located around 70 km from Chennai, after evaluating multiple sites for a new airport to complement the existing Chennai International Airport. Planned across nearly 5,700 acres, the proposed facility is expected to handle growing passenger and cargo traffic over the coming decades while strengthening the state's position as a manufacturing, logistics and investment hub. The airport is also expected to improve regional connectivity and support industrial corridors around Chennai, according to government plans.
However, the announcement of the project triggered widespread opposition across several villages falling within the acquisition zone. Ekanapuram soon became the focal point of the movement, with residents arguing that the project threatens not only their homes but also their primary source of income. Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy, and villagers fear that the acquisition of fertile agricultural land would permanently alter the region's rural character and affect generations dependent on farming.
Environmental concerns have further intensified the debate. Local residents, environmental groups and activists have pointed to the presence of lakes, irrigation tanks, wetlands and interconnected water channels within the proposed project area. They argue that these ecosystems play an important role in groundwater recharge, irrigation and flood mitigation, particularly for neighbouring regions. Opponents believe large-scale construction could disturb this ecological balance, increasing environmental risks while reducing agricultural productivity.
Over the past three years, the protest has evolved beyond demonstrations against land acquisition into a broader campaign advocating sustainable development. Villagers have organised continuous sit-ins, hunger strikes, public meetings, election boycotts and peaceful marches, drawing support from environmental organisations, civil society groups and political leaders. Although reports indicate that some neighbouring villages have temporarily suspended their protests following discussions on compensation and rehabilitation, Ekanapuram residents have continued their agitation, insisting that the airport be shifted to an alternative location rather than implemented with revised compensation packages.
The state government, meanwhile, has reiterated that the airport is a critical infrastructure project for Tamil Nadu's long-term growth. Officials have maintained that landowners will receive compensation, rehabilitation assistance and other benefits under applicable policies. Land acquisition and statutory procedures have continued alongside efforts to engage with affected communities.
As consultations and regulatory processes move forward, the Parandur airport project reflects the increasingly complex nature of large-scale infrastructure development in India. Beyond aviation expansion, it has brought into focus the competing priorities of economic growth, environmental conservation and community rights. The outcome of the dispute is likely to shape not only Chennai's future aviation infrastructure but also the approach to land acquisition and public engagement in major infrastructure projects across the country.
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