Government of Tamil Nadu. selects Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi sites for construction of Chennai’s second airport; writes AAI for a preliminary feasibility study

The move comes nearly a week after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced that the state government would drop the greenfield airport project planned at Parandur. | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B

In a major development, the Tamil Nadu government has shortlisted two sites for a second airport in Chennai and has asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct a pre-feasibility study. The move comes nearly a week after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced that the state government would drop the greenfield airport project planned at Parandur and look for alternative sites.

The Hindu was the first to report that two locations – Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi – are the top contenders for the project. It is now learned that the state government has asked AAI to study Cheyyur in Chengalpattu district and Manellore, near Gummidipoondi, in Tiruvallur district. Sources said the final decision will be taken after the AAI gives its recommendation in the preliminary feasibility report.

A team from the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has already completed the first round of inspections at both locations.

Sources said that Cheyyur location is around 40 km from Puducherry airport and nearly 35 km from Kalpakkam. It is also nearly 100 km from the existing airport at Meenambakkam. Manellore locality is about 50 km from the city and 35 km from Sriharikota.

Sources said even if the AAI recommends one of the two sites, there may be some difficulty in getting the remaining clearances from various regulatory bodies, given the location of both the sites. “Though there is an option for Cheyyur, provided the Defense Ministry gives permission, as the Indian Air Force, Tambaram, controls the airspace in the region. But Manellore in Gummidipoondi has some problems,” the source said.

In the next step, a team of AAI officials will visit both the sites and conduct an inspection after which a report will be prepared. The AAI is expected to submit a report within a few months. “The state government wants to start the process on the second airport soon. It will help if AAI speeds up and submits a report as soon as possible,” another source said.

However, another source pointed out that even if the state government wants to build a second airport soon, it may have to wait at least 5-7 years for the project to become a reality.

Published – 05 Sep 2026 19:44 IST