In a notable development amid the ongoing opposition to Chennai’s second airport at Parandur, 19 landowners have sold 17.52 acres for Rs 92 million, registering the land in the name of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) at the Kanchipuram Sub-Registrar office on Wednesday.

The move is seen by district officials as the formal start of the land acquisition process for the proposed airport, which has been facing sustained protests since 2023. The project requires the acquisition of 3,500 acres from around 2,000 landowners, and the Wednesday registration marks only a small portion of the total requirement.

Members of the protest committee, supported by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay, argue that this sale does not reflect a shift in public sentiment. They claimed the land sold belonged largely to graduates, 11 of whom reside in Chennai, and not to locals from the villages where opposition has been strongest. The plots are located in Parandur, Podavur, Nelvai, Valathur, and Ackamapuram.

The committee has resolved to challenge the project in court, especially after the government’s recent revision of compensation rates. Their protest began the day the site was announced in 2023 and has taken various forms, including sit-ins, petitions, and public rallies.