In a significant development poised to transform air travel in Chennai, plans for the city’s second airport at Parandur have been unveiled, promising state-of-the-art infrastructure and enhanced capacity to cater to the growing needs of passengers and cargo transportation.According to details provided by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) in the pre-feasibility project report and proposed Terms of Reference (TOR) submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Parandur airport project will be constructed in four phases, with a total capacity to handle a staggering 100 million passengers. The estimated cost of the entire project stands at ₹32,704.92 crore, with ₹10,307.3 crore earmarked for the construction of passenger terminals alone.
The construction timeline for the Parandur airport is set to commence in January 2026, with the completion of the first phase slated for December 2028. Subsequent phases will be undertaken in succession, with the final phase expected to conclude by December 2046. The airport’s expansive infrastructure will feature three terminals – Terminal 1 spanning 3,45,758 sqm, Terminal 2 covering 4,76,915 sqm, and Terminal 3 encompassing 5,05,495 sqm. Additionally, the cargo terminal and truck docking area will occupy 2,30,500 sq.m.
With two parallel runways measuring 4040X45 meters each, the Parandur airport is strategically positioned to alleviate congestion at the existing Meenambakkam airport, which has been experiencing saturation and declining cargo volumes in recent years. Spanning across 5,368.93 acres, the Parandur airport project aims to address the burgeoning demand for air travel and cargo handling in Chennai and facilitate seamless connectivity within the region and beyond.