Chennai courts global investment and airport upgrade while police expand child abuse inquiry
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a change in the operator of Chennai International Airport, weeks after the state dropped its proposed Parandur greenfield project, while US pharmacy giant Walgreens signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to open a global capability centre in the city. Chennai City Police also revealed that an 84-year-old businessman already under investigation for child sexual abuse is alleged to have victimised at least seven additional minor girls beyond the original complainant.
🗳️ TN Chief Minister Asks PM Modi to Replace AAI as Chennai Airport Operator
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that the Airports Authority of India be replaced as the operator of Chennai International Airport. The letter came weeks after the state government formally abandoned its proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, a plan that had faced significant opposition from affected communities. With the Parandur project set aside, the state has been exploring alternatives, shortlisting Cheyyur and Gummidipoondi as possible sites for a future second airport. However, recognizing that any new airport would require years of construction before becoming operational, the immediate priority has shifted to upgrading the existing Chennai airport. The Tamil Nadu government's intervention with the Union government reflects longstanding frustration over the pace of improvements at the Airports Authority of India-operated facility, which handles millions of passengers annually and has struggled with growing capacity demands. Chief Minister Vijay's outreach to Prime Minister Modi signals the state's intent to exercise greater influence over a key infrastructure asset that remains under central jurisdiction, seeking a change that could accelerate improvements at one of South India's busiest international gateways. [2]
🏢 Walgreens Signs MoU to Open Global Capability Centre in Chennai
US-headquartered pharmacy and healthcare company Walgreens has announced it will establish a global capability centre in Chennai, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Walgreens India Private Limited and the Tamil Nadu government. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, marking the latest in a series of international business commitments to the city. The move positions Walgreens alongside a growing roster of American and European corporations that have chosen Chennai as a hub for their technology, analytics, and business-services operations. Global capability centres allow multinational companies to consolidate specialized knowledge-intensive functions in India, where deep talent pools and competitive operating costs have made the country attractive for such investment. Chennai has actively sought GCC commitments as part of its strategy to cement its place as a major technology and services hub alongside Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister Vijay has pursued international investment systematically, and the Walgreens MoU represents a continuation of that approach. The new centre is expected to generate employment for technology and business-services professionals in the city. [5]
Police Probe Reveals 84-Year-Old Chennai Businessman Abused Seven More Minor Girls
Chennai City Police have revealed that an 84-year-old businessman who was already the subject of a child sexual abuse investigation has allegedly committed similar offences against at least seven additional young girls beyond the original complainant. The expanded scope of the investigation emerged from a police probe that identified new victims, significantly widening the scale of what authorities are treating as a serious case of exploitation of minors. Chennai City Police disclosed that a senior officer is overseeing the investigation, and the revelation that multiple additional victims may have been affected raises questions about how the alleged abuse went undetected over time and what safeguards were in place to protect the children involved. The businessman was not publicly identified at the time of the disclosure, in keeping with practices that apply to sensitive criminal matters of this nature. The case has drawn considerable local attention and is expected to proceed through the judicial system. Investigators had originally begun looking into the matter following a complaint from a single victim, and the subsequent probe uncovered evidence pointing to a broader pattern of alleged abuse affecting at least eight minors in total. [7]
Sources: [2] The News Minute · [5] The New Indian Express · [7] ANI News