Tamil Nadu CM Vijay
CHENNAI: A new integrated complex housing the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Secretariat will be constructed in Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay said in the Assembly on Thursday.
The complex will cover 2 million square feet and is planned to meet the administrative requirements of the state for the next 100 years. Making the announcement under Rule 110, Vijay said his government would develop the complex with modern facilities to bring government departments together on a single administrative campus. Vijay also highlighted the heritage of Fort St George, which was built by the East India Company between 1640 and 1644 and has served as the administrative centre of the Tamil Nadu government since Independence. The historic complex covers about 107 acres, but the state government controls only around four acres for Secretariat use.
However, the government has not yet revealed the location of the proposed Secretariat complex.
The government said the number of employees and administrative responsibilities had increased significantly over the past four decades, while the existing buildings had remained largely unchanged. The government also said the heritage buildings at Fort St George would be preserved as historical monuments to protect their heritage value for future generations. The plan is to bring all government departments together at a single location, according to the announcement.
The remaining land is under the control of the Defence Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India, limiting expansion and development. The Secretariat currently operates from two buildings. The main building at Fort St George houses the Legislative Assembly, offices of the chief minister, Cabinet and Chief Secretary, the Finance Department and other departments.
Earlier reporting noted: Tamil Nadu to build new assembly, secretariat complex in Chennai Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay (Image credit-X) Earlier reporting noted: The complex will include modern facilities for state government departments, public service centres and officials. Earlier reporting noted: The new complex is being planned as a modern government facility, with infrastructure aimed at improving public access as well as the functioning of government offices.