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Tamil Nadu might not want one other worldwide airport as its present airports are working under capability, in keeping with a report launched by the Uvakai Analysis Basis on Thursday, August 27.
On August 24, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay that the proposed Parandur airport venture could be dropped. Following the announcement, questions have been raised over whether or not the state might obtain its goal of changing into a $1.5 trillion financial system with out rising its worldwide air connectivity, significantly when put next with cities corresponding to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.
The Uvakai Analysis Basis’s research examines Tamil Nadu’s aviation demand, present airport infrastructure, growth potentialities and various modes of transport amid the talk over the proposed airport. Its central query is: Does Tamil Nadu want a brand new worldwide airport?
The inspiration stated it undertook the research in opposition to the backdrop of protests by residents of Parandur, who’ve been opposing the proposed airport for greater than 1,200 days. Residents have raised considerations over the impression of the venture on agricultural land, water our bodies, drainage, flooding, livelihoods and displacement. In keeping with the report, the proposed venture might have an effect on roughly 1,386 hectares of agricultural land and 34 water our bodies.
Tamil Nadu presently has six airports, 4 of which deal with each worldwide and home flights, whereas two deal with home flights. Collectively, the airports have a capability to deal with 51.1 million passengers yearly. Nevertheless, in 2024-25, they dealt with roughly 29.4 million passengers, that means solely about 58% of the obtainable capability was utilised, the report stated.
Chennai airport, which has a acknowledged capability of 35 million passengers yearly, dealt with roughly 22.4 million passengers in 2024-25. This left round 12.6 million passengers’ value of capability unused.
An analogous hole exists in air cargo, in keeping with the report. Chennai’s airports have a acknowledged capability to deal with roughly 11.02 lakh metric tonnes of air cargo, however dealt with solely 3.79 lakh metric tonnes, that means about 34% of the obtainable capability was utilised.
The report estimates that Chennai’s present cargo capability shall be ample till round 2046-47 underneath the present progress situation.
It additionally highlights the distinction between air and sea cargo capability within the area. Chennai has the Kamarajar and Kattupalli ports, which collectively can deal with round 117-120 million tonnes of cargo. As compared, roughly 0.379 million tonnes of cargo is dealt with by way of Chennai airport.
“Passengers and cargo are the 2 issues that journey by air. The prevailing capability of the airport has not been totally utilised but,” the report argues.
The report additionally factors to the underutilisation of Chennai airport’s secondary runway and says the constraints affecting its use have to be examined.
Vidhubala of the Uvakai Analysis Basis stated comparisons between Chennai and Bengaluru must bear in mind their completely different geographical and logistical benefits.
“Bengaluru doesn’t have ports, as the town is just not situated close to the ocean, and it’s depending on airways for transporting cargo. However Chennai has two main ports in addition to an airport, which suggests now we have entry to each air and sea cargo,” she stated.
The report additionally seems at the potential for high-speed rail changing into a substitute for air journey sooner or later. It notes that the Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Hyderabad corridors collectively account for round 3.04 million passengers yearly. A big proportion of those passengers might doubtlessly shift to high-speed rail if such providers turn out to be obtainable, the report stated.
In keeping with the research, between 2016-17 and 2024-25, Tamil Nadu’s Gross State Home Product (GSDP) elevated by round 137%, whereas air passenger visitors elevated by solely 27%.
The inspiration’s key argument is that Tamil Nadu’s present airports are but to succeed in their full capability. It additionally factors out that the proposed growth of Chennai airport, together with the addition of Terminals 3 and 5, might additional improve its passenger-handling capability.
The inspiration has known as on the federal government to first make sure that present airport infrastructure is totally utilised and to conduct an in depth evaluation of future aviation demand earlier than deciding whether or not a brand new airport is important.
This story was written by a scholar interning with TNM.
