The Chennai airport?s aim to accommodate 55 million passengers annually might face challenges, as the state government has abandoned its intention to procure 193 acres of land for the airport's expansion. According to a Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) official speaking to TNIE, the decision to withdraw the proposal stemmed from difficulties encountered in acquiring the land.

As per the official, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had requested 133 acres for expanding the airport and an additional 60 acres for road connectivity. "Due to the presence of numerous buildings in the targeted area and the impracticality of the acquisition cost, the plan has been shelved," the official explained.

This decision follows months after a joint survey conducted by the AAI and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) of six land parcels, aimed at expanding the airport to meet the ambitious goal of serving 55 million passengers annually.

The focus now shifts towards acquiring land for the Parandur airport. Initially, the AAI had urged the TN government to acquire 306 acres to construct an international terminal on the opposite side of the Adyar River. However, after TIDCO deemed the land acquisition financially infeasible and noted the significant impact on local families, a revised proposal for 138 acre was presented to the state.