The Government of Tamil Nadu has urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to prepare a revised proposal for land acquisition for the expansion of Chennai Airport on the Adyar River. The AAI had put forward a proposal to acquire 306 acres or six lots in and around the Cowl Bazaar area. But the state government conducted an investigation and found the cost of acquiring the land too high.

Citing sources in the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), a report says that apart from the cost, a large number of families will be displaced as a result of the land acquisition and so AAI was tasked to present a revised proposal prepare. The state has indicated which land can be acquired and which not for the expansion of the airport.

Airport Director Dr Sharad Kumar confirmed that the AAI is reworking the proposal. “We are now looking at purchasing 158 hectares of uninhabitable land, so that the purchase costs are lower. Only the land that is uninhabitable will be acquired," Kumar said.

When asked if the availability of land being reduced to nearly half would affect the expansion, Dr Kumar said it is too early to say, adding: "We are still working on proposal."

One of the busiest airports in India, Chennai Airport functions on just 1,317 acres of land, the smallest when compared to other major airports.