Following the abandonment of the Paranthur Airport project due to public protest, the TVK government is now considering Seyyur in Chengalpattu district and Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district as potential locations for Chennai's second airport. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has already conducted initial studies at these sites, and a request for a preliminary feasibility study has been sent to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI's recommendations will be crucial in selecting the final site, and the project is anticipated to take at least five to six years for completion, even with expedited processes. Gummidipoondi's potential selection is seen as a significant opportunity for the long-neglected Thiruvallur district's development and could also benefit border areas of Andhra Pradesh, potentially easing congestion at the existing Meenambakkam airport.

Following the abandonment of the Paranthur Airport project due to public protest, the TVK government is now considering Seyyur in Chengalpattu district and Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district as potential locations for Chennai's second airport. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has already conducted initial studies at these sites, and a request for a preliminary feasibility study has been sent to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI's recommendations will be crucial in selecting the final site, and the project is anticipated to take at least five to six years for completion, even with expedited processes. Gummidipoondi's potential selection is seen as a significant opportunity for the long-neglected Thiruvallur district's development and could also benefit border areas of Andhra Pradesh, potentially easing congestion at the existing Meenambakkam airport.

Following the abandonment of the Paranthur Airport project due to public protest, the TVK government is now considering Seyyur in Chengalpattu district and Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district as potential locations for Chennai's second airport. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has already conducted initial studies at these sites, and a request for a preliminary feasibility study has been sent to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI's recommendations will be crucial in selecting the final site, and the project is anticipated to take at least five to six years for completion, even with expedited processes. Gummidipoondi's potential selection is seen as a significant opportunity for the long-neglected Thiruvallur district's development and could also benefit border areas of Andhra Pradesh, potentially easing congestion at the existing Meenambakkam airport.

The TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, which abandoned the Parantur Airport project following public protest, is reportedly considering other locations for Chennai's second airport.

For the past few years, the central and state governments have been involved in the construction of Chennai's second green airport on an area of ​​about 4,000 acres in Paranthur and its surrounding villages in Kanchipuram district.

As per reports, the government has selected two locations - Seyyur and Gummidipoondi- to build Chennai's second airport. A letter has been sent to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) requesting a preliminary feasibility study to be conducted at Seyyur in Chengalpattu district and Manalur near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district.

The final location will be selected based on the recommendations made by the AAI. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) team has already completed the first phase study in both these locations.

While Seyyir is about 40 kms from  Puducherry airport and about 35 km from Kalpakkam, Gummidipoondi is situated about 50 km from the city and 35 km from Sriharikota. It is also about 200 km from Andhra Pradesh's proposed Kuppam airport.

Even if the AAI greenlights one of these locations, it is necessary to obtain clearances from several regulatory authorities. Even at breakneck speed, it will take at least 5 to 6 years to realise the project.

Why Gummidipoondi

The reports have brought cheer to Gummidipoondi, part of Thiruvallur district, which has been continuously neglected for years. Despite lying close to Chennai, there is a long-standing feeling among the locals that the district has not received enough attention with regard to infrastructure, industrial development and people's well-being. The lack of flyovers or bypasses in key areas, heavy traffic congestion due to road freight traffic to the northern states, lack of sufficient employment opportunities for local youth and lack of plans for economic development are the major problems faced by the region.

Gummidipoondi also borders Andhra Pradesh, and setting up a new airport will benefit people of both states. Since this area is located along the national highway, there will be no need to create a road corridor. People from the Andhra Pradesh border and the northern districts above Chennai can avoid Meenambakkam airport.

The search ended in Paranthur and its surrounding villages in Kanchipuram district, and the plan was to build a second green airport on an area of ​​about 4,000 acres.

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