Chennai : The Tamil Nadu government has identified a 25.55-acre plot at Foreshore Estate in Pattinapakkam, Chennai, for a new government complex that will house the Legislative Assembly and Secretariat, according to a government order issued to the state Public (Buildings) Department on Wednesday.
The proposed complex is also set to come up close to Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay’s residence and is planned with modern facilities.
The development came amid opposition from PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, who urged the state government to abandon the Pattinapakkam plan and instead establish a large administrative city outside Chennai.
Responding to reports about the proposed project, Anbumani criticised the reported Rs 1,200 crore cost of the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex, calling the move “shortsighted”. He said Tamil Nadu needed a modern Secretariat, but argued that Pattinapakkam was not an appropriate location.
Anbumani pointed to the existing traffic pressure around Santhome High Road and Greenways Road, saying the situation remained difficult even after a loop road was built. He also cited the presence of Santhome Church, schools, densely populated neighbourhoods and the Inspector General of Registration office in the area as reasons for concern.
He further questioned whether the proposed site would be adequate for a complex intended to serve the state for the next 100 years. According to him, once provisions for FSI requirements, green spaces, fire stations, emergency medical facilities, parking and public transport connectivity are taken into account, the available land would be insufficient.
“Building it on a restricted plot will inevitably replicate the current space constraints within a few years,” he said.
Instead, Anbumani proposed that the government acquire between 500 and 1,000 acres outside Chennai and develop an integrated administrative city.
He said the proposed township should bring together the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and department headquarters, along with residences for the Chief Minister, ministers and civil servants. He also suggested infrastructure including Metro connectivity, helipads, schools, colleges, sports arenas and commercial complexes.
Anbumani maintained that shifting the administrative centre to a dedicated greenfield location would be a more suitable long-term approach and called on the government to scrap the Pattinapakkam proposal in favour of a larger administrative hub outside Chennai.
