Chennai International Airport has fallen to sixth place in India in terms of overall passenger traffic, with Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport overtaking it in the latest rankings. The development underscores the urgent need for a second airport in the city, a project that has been under discussion for two decades without tangible progress.
Passenger Traffic Decline
According to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Chennai handled approximately 22 million passengers in the last fiscal year, while Kolkata recorded around 23 million. This shift marks a significant change in the pecking order of Indian airports, with Chennai now trailing behind Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
The city’s airport has been operating beyond its designed capacity of 23 million passengers per annum for several years. Infrastructure constraints, including a single runway and limited terminal space, have hindered growth. Airlines have been forced to reduce flight frequencies or shift operations to other airports in the region.
Two Decades of Delays
The search for a second airport for Chennai began in 2006, when the Tamil Nadu government first proposed a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur, about 40 kilometers west of the city. However, the project faced multiple hurdles, including land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and disputes over the site. In 2012, the government considered an alternative location at Parandur in Kanchipuram district, but that too stalled.
“We have been waiting for a second airport for over 20 years. The delay has cost Chennai dearly in terms of lost economic opportunities and connectivity,” said a senior official from the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), speaking on condition of anonymity.
Current Status and Proposals
In 2024, the Tamil Nadu government revived the Parandur proposal, conducting feasibility studies and preliminary surveys. The site spans 5,300 acres and is located near the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway. However, the project requires clearance from multiple central ministries, including defense, environment, and civil aviation. The AAI has also raised concerns about the proximity of the site to the Chennai International Airport, which is about 70 kilometers away.
Meanwhile, the Chennai Airport has undertaken expansion works, including a new terminal building and runway upgrades, but these are seen as stop-gap measures. “The existing airport cannot be expanded indefinitely due to space constraints,” said an AAI spokesperson. “A second airport is essential for the long-term growth of the region.”
Economic Impact
The lack of a second airport has affected Chennai’s competitiveness as a business and tourism hub. According to a 2025 report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the city lost an estimated ₹12,000 crore in potential economic output due to inadequate air connectivity. The report also noted that Chennai’s share of international passenger traffic declined from 8% in 2015 to 5% in 2025.
“Chennai is a major manufacturing and IT hub, but its airport infrastructure is not keeping pace with demand,” said a CII representative. “A second airport would not only ease congestion but also attract more airlines and routes.”
Way Forward
The Tamil Nadu government has submitted a detailed project report for the Parandur airport to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in early 2026. The report estimates the project cost at ₹25,000 crore and proposes a phased development, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2030. However, experts caution that even if approvals are granted soon, construction could take at least five to seven years.
“The delay has been frustrating, but we are hopeful that the current proposal will move forward,” said a senior official from the Tamil Nadu government. “We are in constant dialogue with the central government to expedite clearances.”
As Chennai’s airport struggles to cope with rising demand, the need for a second airport has never been more urgent. The city’s slip in the rankings serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of infrastructure inertia.
