Chennai's airport is running out of room, the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur is in limbo, and an old land-acquisition plan around the existing airport is back in the news. If you are looking at a plot or flat around Manapakkam, Kolapakkam or Cowl Bazaar — or already own one — the question that matters is: is my land affected?
> Read this first — what is confirmed and what is not (as of 26 October 2026):
> - Local reports say revenue officials are working to acquire about 217 acres across Manapakkam, Kolapakkam and Cowl Bazaar (spelled "Kaul Bazaar" in some reports), and that the work is in its "final stage".
> - A real-estate news site reported that, as of 5 October 2026, there was no new Government Order or Gazette notification on this acquisition, and that parcel-wise progress and compensation status were not officially confirmed.
> - We could not find an official order online. Treat every claim about specific survey numbers, compensation amounts or timelines as unconfirmed until you see the document yourself. [VERIFY: check the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette / Chengalpattu district revenue notices for any new notification before publishing.]
What we know
- Size and place: about 217 acres in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam and Cowl Bazaar, close to Chennai airport in the Alandur–Kancheepuram belt.
- Where it comes from: the area traces back to a 2007 acquisition plan of roughly 1,070 acres (around 1,069.99 acres in one report) across Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Kerugambakkam and Tharapakkam. About 853 acres (852.88 in one report) were later removed from the proposal, leaving around 217 acres. One report dates that release to 2011; the other does not give a year. [VERIFY: the 2007 G.O. number and the release order's date — neither source cites them.]
- Later orders: a land-records research site identified a 2018 acquisition notification for Kolapakkam and a 2021 order covering specified lands in Cowl Bazaar. [VERIFY: confirm both orders.]
- Who is handling it: reports say district revenue officers have been assigned and an office is expected to function from the Alandur taluk office, after officers earlier posted for the Parandur project were moved to other work.
- Wider airport plan: on 24 August 2026 the state announced a proposal for a fifth terminal on the north-western side of the existing airport, in coordination with the Airports Authority of India, with a reported capacity of about 20 million passengers a year, plus road and flyover upgrades. [VERIFY: the terminal capacity figure comes from a single report.]
What we do NOT know
- Whether all 217 acres have actually been acquired, or only notified.
- Parcel-wise (survey-number-wise) status — which plots are in, which were de-notified.
- Whether compensation has been awarded or settled.
- Whether any construction has begun.
- How much additional land, if any, the government will try to acquire beyond the 217 acres.
Nobody has published reliable data on how this will move property prices in these villages, and neither can we. Anyone quoting a specific price jump is guessing.
And Parandur?
The earlier plan for a second airport at Parandur was reported cancelled by the state in June 2026, citing damage to water bodies and farmland; on 20 July 2026 the Ministry of Civil Aviation said the state had not submitted any proposal to change the location. The state has said alternative sites would be assessed. Read our Parandur airport update and property impact for the details. [VERIFY: confirm the latest Parandur position before publishing.]
Being in the village does not mean being in the acquisition
Several articles make this point and it is the most important: a property located in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam or Cowl Bazaar is not automatically part of the 217 acres. Acquisition is by survey number, not by village. Some parcels in the old 1,070-acre plan were de-notified.
How to check a plot or flat before you buy (a 7-step checklist)
- Get the survey number and sub-division from the sale deed or patta, not from the seller's description.
- Check the patta/chitta and A-register on the Tamil Nadu e-Services land records portal to confirm who is recorded as owner. [VERIFY: confirm the portal name and URL.]
- Take a recent Encumbrance Certificate (EC) for at least 30 years from the Registration Department (TNREGINET). Acquisition notices and awards sometimes appear as entries.
- Ask the Alandur taluk office / Chengalpattu district revenue office in writing whether the survey number appears in any acquisition notification, award or de-notification order.
- Search the Gazette for notifications under the land-acquisition law that applies — the 2007-era plan and the 2018/2021 orders may fall under different Acts. Ask a lawyer which one applies. [VERIFY: confirm the applicable Act(s) for each order.]
- Verify approvals: for plots, a CMDA/DTCP-approved layout; for flats, CMDA building plan approval and a RERA registration.
- Hire a property lawyer to do a title search before paying any advance. This costs far less than a blocked purchase.
If you already own land there: keep your patta, tax receipts and EC safe, check the revenue office for notices, and do not sign anything handing over possession without legal advice. Acquisition is a legal process with rights to notice, objection and compensation.
Should you buy near Chennai airport now?
Airport-adjacent land can attract demand, but legal clarity must come before any price story. If the survey number you are looking at is under acquisition, you may end up with compensation rather than a plot or flat. If it is cleared, you still need a clean title. Until officials publish parcel-wise details, the safest approach is to treat acquisition-belt land as high-diligence, not as a bargain.
See also: Chennai Peripheral Ring Road land acquisition and how to check DTCP vs CMDA approved plots. Browse properties for sale in Chennai with approvals and RERA details shown upfront.
This article is general information based on news reports, not legal advice. Land-acquisition status changes — confirm with the revenue authorities and a lawyer before any transaction.
