Andhra Pradesh IT and Industries Minister Nara Lokesh has rejected a social media proposal suggesting that Sri City could serve as an alternative airport hub for Chennai passengers. His tongue-in-cheek response came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced that the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project would be dropped. The exchange has since triggered a wider political and economic debate across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Responding to a post suggesting Sri City as an alternative aviation hub, Lokesh wrote that Andhra Pradesh already had enough development work to undertake, referring to Amaravati, Polavaram and three economic regions. He added that an airport for Chennai was “not on our ‘to-do’ list” and that the state would “pass on this”. His response quickly gained attention online, with users interpreting it as a political comment on Tamil Nadu's airport expansion plans.
Vijay announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday that the government would drop the Parandur airport proposal and instead identify an alternative location that would cause less disruption to agricultural land and residential areas. He also said that the existing Chennai airport would be expanded, including a proposed fifth terminal. Defending the decision, Vijay stated that he stood with protesters who had opposed the proposed airport project.
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The decision has drawn criticism from political leaders and commentators in Tamil Nadu. Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described the move as an “irreversible setback” to the state's growth, while BJP leader K. Annamalai argued that selecting another location, completing land acquisition and securing the necessary approvals could delay the project by at least a decade. Political commentator Sumanth Raman also described the decision as a major setback for Tamil Nadu and warned that an alternative project could take years to progress.
The debate subsequently expanded to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, with social media users suggesting that Sri City could potentially serve passengers from Chennai. Sri City is a major industrial hub located near the Tamil Nadu border along National Highway 16 and is around 55 km from Chennai. Its established industrial ecosystem has led to speculation about whether the area could play a larger role in regional infrastructure and connectivity.
Lokesh's response has effectively dismissed the social media proposal for the time being, while the exchange has added another dimension to the debate over Chennai's future aviation infrastructure. With Tamil Nadu now looking for an alternative location for its proposed second major airport and planning further expansion of the existing facility, the issue is likely to remain a political and economic talking point in both neighbouring states.
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