Making several announcements in the Assembly, Vijay, fulfilling TVK's key electoral assurances, declared that the Parandur Greenfield airport project will
be shelved. The project had been strongly opposed by farmers who did not wish to part with their farm lands. Vijay announced in the assembly that the TVK government was exploring alternative locations and will finalise a different site soon. He affirmed that the decision was taken after meeting protesters personally, hearing their demands and understanding their concerns. In his speech, he said he stands with the protesters and supports the locals who were affected by this project. He argued that the location for a new airport project should be in an area with minimal need for displacement of people and disruption of industries. He said that development should not come at the cost of forcing large numbers of people from their homes and livelihoods. In a veiled attack, he blamed his predecessors in power, the DMK for taking the decision to establish the airport at Parandur. He said it was the DMK government that put the locals in a position where they faced displacement from their land and homes. The proposed airport faced strong opposition from farmers and local residents who did not want to give up their agricultural land. The project required the acquisition of around 5,746 acres. In a sharp response to the government's decision, the DMK hit back at CM Vijay, saying that 90% of the land acquisition was already completed. DMK leader Thangam Thennarasu argued that the affected villagers had already been given compensation, and questioned what would happen to the land which the government has already acquired for the project, following the decision to shelve the project. Thennarasu said the Parandur airport was crucial for Tamil Nadu's economic growth and development. He said that Parandur was an appropriate location for the new airport and pointed out that Metro connectivity had also been planned towards the area in anticipation of the airport. The DMK said the airport was expected to create industrial and economic opportunities for Chennai and surrounding areas. Thennarasu warned that shelving the project could hurt the state's development and questioned whether the decision was influenced by political considerations. He even cited the Land Acquisition Act, arguing that land acquired for a specific purpose should be used for that purpose and not diverted to another use.
