Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the decision in the Assembly on August 24, 2026, saying Chennai needs a second airport but not at the cost of agricultural land and farmers' livelihoods. The project, estimated at ₹27,400 crore, was planned across 3,000 acres of fertile agricultural land and was expected to handle up to 100 million passengers annually. The government said the move fulfils one of its poll promises. TVK chief Vijay had earlier extended support to the Parandur protest as it crossed 1,000 days.