While plans for T5 itself have been in the offing for a while, it has now gained momentum and urgency as plans for Parandur airport have been officially dropped.
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

Chennai airport could gain capacity to handle around 55 million passengers a year through a proposed Terminal 5 on an under-utilised triangular parcel between its two runways with minimal land acquisition and relocation of people, top airport officials told businessline.

While plans for T5 itself have been in the offing for a while, it has now gained momentum and urgency as plans for Parandur airport have been officially dropped, they add. However given that the focus is on T3 expansion at the moment, this is likely to take considerable time.

No project cost has been finalised for the plan, and officials say an estimate could be prepared only after completion of technical studies, detailed design and the required approvals.

A key component of this plan is a proposed 5.32-km elevated corridor from Tambaram-Maduravoyal road to Terminal 5 along the Adyar River. The corridor is expected to provide a critical link to Terminal 5 while minimising disruption and the need for land acquisition in densely populated areas on the Western side of the airport.

While originally the corridor would have required land acquisition, the State government subsequently suggested aligning it along the periphery of the Adyar River to reduce acquisition costs. The proposal was referred to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for a technical assessment.

The IIT study indicated that the project could be implemented without affecting flood-water management, provided the river banks are strengthened and adequate measures are taken to maintain water flow.

The proposal requires in-principle approval from the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department and other statutory clearances, including environmental clearance, sources said. Encroachments along the river bank may have to be removed wherever necessary.

The corridor would also connect with NH 32, providing access to the airport from several major road corridors. Officials expect this could divert a portion of passenger and cargo traffic currently using GST Road, where congestion has become an increasing concern.

Authorities are also working to increase runway capacity. Its current runway handling capacity is around 35 aircraft movements an hour and is expected to rise to about 45-46 movements with the planned rapid-exit taxiways.

The proposed Terminal 5, on the western side of the airport, could add around 20 million passengers to the existing capacity. The airport is expected to handle around 35 million passengers after its ongoing expansion, taking the total capacity after T5 to around 55 million passengers.

The plan is to make more intensive use of the existing 1,300-acre airport estate while enhancing runway, aircraft parking and terminal capacity, officials said.

The proposal has been examined by the consultants and planning department and is being seen as a way to unlock additional capacity at the existing airport without disturbing its two runways or requiring substantial additional airport land.

Aviation expert Mohan Ranganathan on the project says the area between the two runways is low lying and is always flooded during very heavy rains. That is the area through which flood waters from main tarmac and runway flow. If they block up that area, you will find the whole airport under water for a length of time during monsoons

Copyright© 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

Source: Read the original article on www.thehindubusinessline.com