Chennai may soon have a second airport. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur that would accommodate 5 million passengers a year.

Kancheepuram district collector Hanish Chhabra said: “Land acquisition is on for several projects, including the airport.”

“Chennai will be the first city in the country to have two international airports,” AAI chairman V.P. Agrawal said.

AAI has also planned control and approach towers at Sriperumbudur, while Chennai ATC would oversee air traffic.

Mr Agrawal said the authority had submitted a proposal to the state government for joint development of the greenfield airport and the government was expected to announce its plans soon.