Tamil Nadu Moves to Secure Centre’s Nod for Proposed Rameswaram Airport

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) is set to submit an application to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking site clearance for the airport. The approval is an important initial regulatory step before the project can move ahead.

The proposed airport is planned across approximately 600 acres at Manikaneri. The location was finalised in January following an assessment by a team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Rameswaram is a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, drawing visitors to the Ramanathaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi, Arichalmunai and the memorial of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

At present, travellers largely rely on road and rail networks to reach the island town. The state government announced the airport proposal in 2025, citing the need for better connectivity and greater support for tourism and economic development in and around Rameswaram.

Five sites were initially considered in Ramanathapuram district: Palankulam, Devipattinam, Kumbaram, Kalari and Manikaneri. After an initial assessment, Kumbaram and Manikaneri were shortlisted for detailed examination.

Following a request from the state government, an AAI team inspected the two shortlisted locations to evaluate their suitability for an airport. Manikaneri was subsequently selected as the preferred site.

The state government has permitted the project to proceed, and the process of acquiring the required land is already underway.

TIDCO's planned application to the Civil Aviation Ministry will now seek formal clearance for the selected site, marking the next stage in the development process.

The move comes after the state government recently dropped its proposal for a second airport for Chennai at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. The Parandur project had been proposed during the previous DMK government, but its cancellation has not affected the decision to continue with the Rameswaram airport proposal.

If approved, the Manikaneri airport would provide an additional mode of transport for visitors travelling to Rameswaram and could improve access to other tourist and pilgrimage destinations in the surrounding region.

The site clearance process remains at an early stage. No construction timeline, final project cost or proposed date for the start of commercial flight operations has been announced so far.

For now, the project is progressing through land acquisition and preparations for the application seeking central approval for the selected site.