CREDAI supports Parandur project, says second airport for Chennai is essential

P. Kruthivas, President-elect, CREDAI Chennai, pointed out that a substantial amount of land has already been acquired at Parandur for the second airport project. | Photo credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) has highlighted the need for a second airport for Chennai, arguing that the city risks losing investment and economic opportunities if aviation infrastructure is not expanded.

“The question is no longer whether Chennai needs a second international airport. The real question is whether the city can afford to delay it further,” said P. Kruthivas, newly elected president of CREDAI Chennai and managing director of Pushkar Properties Private Limited.

“We are already behind schedule. Many airlines are shifting their operations to Bengaluru. Air France has already left Chennai. Cathay Pacific, which used to operate daily flights between Chennai and Hong Kong, has reduced its services. All this is happening because the current airport does not have the capacity to support further growth,” he said.

Asked about the Parandur project, Mr. Kruthivas said, “We need a second airport. There is no doubt about it. As far as Parandur is concerned, it makes more sense. It took us three to five years to get to this stage. If we cancel the project now, how will it benefit anyone? Building an airport is not like building a highway. It takes years and cannot be done overnight.”

He pointed out that a considerable amount of land has already been acquired in Parandur. “Certainly environmental concerns need to be explored – I’m not saying they shouldn’t be. But sustainability and growth need to go hand in hand,” he said. “The Parandur site is strategically located along the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor with significant electronics, automotive and warehousing activities nearby. It is also supported by planned infrastructure, including the Outer Ring Road and Phase II extension of the Chennai Metro Rail up to Thirumazhisai. Moreover, the site is only about 65 km from Kruthivas,” Mr. pointed out.

There is a risk of saturation

According to data shared by CREDAI, even after the ongoing upgrades will increase capacity to 35 million passengers per year, industry observers and government projections suggest that the Chennai airport could approach saturation between 2028 and 2032. Several structural constraints make further large-scale expansion difficult. These include limited runway expansion options, dense urban environments, peak slot congestion, limited aircraft parking space and increasing cargo pressure.

A larger air hub would enable Chennai to attract more international airlines, expand direct long-haul connections and improve cargo movement efficiency. It will also help compete more effectively with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Dubai and Singapore for regional transport. Better connectivity directly affects exports, tourism, international trade routes and the perception of global investors, added Mr. Kruthivas.

Published – 10 Jun 2026 0:38 IST