Rejecting contentions made by Tamil Nadu Minister R. Nirmalkumar that it would not be possible to lay runway in the Parandur site for the new airport, BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran on Thursday (July 9, 2026) said the Minister’s claims were part of a “false propaganda” and was a betrayal to Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Nagenthran charged that the TVK-led government under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has undertaken steps to stall the economic development of Tamil Nadu and the employment prospects of the youth of the State, by creating hurdles for the proposal of a new airport.

The BJP leader asked if the Minister was aware about approvals granted by the Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Defence after undertaking a detailed study of the proposal and after considering the waterbodies in the site.

“When experts have recommended technical solutions for protecting water bodies, even while laying a runway, why should one create a fresh hurdle? Is it a genuine technical issue or a cheap act to sacrifice the State’s development for vote bank politics,” Mr. Nagenthran questioned.

Observing that any delay in the airport project, especially when the existing Chennai airport could not be expanded further, would cost Tamil Nadu many investment opportunities, Mr. Nagenthran urged for cooperation with the Union government to continue work towards the Parandur airport project.