Tamil Nadu CM Vijay weighs 4 sites to move Assembly, Secretariat from Fort St George

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to announce during the ongoing Assembly session that his government plans to move the Legislative Assembly and Secretariat out of Fort St George and build a new integrated complex.

The announcement is likely to be made under Rule 110, which allows the Chief Minister to inform the Assembly about a government decision without a debate, according to an ANI report.

Government sources told ANI that four locations are under consideration for the proposed complex: Pattinapakkam, Nandambakkam, Koyambedu and the Highways Department premises in Guindy.

However, a Times of India report said three sites have been shortlisted: the Highways Research Station campus in Guindy, Foreshore Estate and a site opposite Fintech City in Nandambakkam.

A final location has not been decided. The government owns about 35 acres at the Guindy site, while the other two parcels have more than 20 acres each.

Officials said the land would be adequate for employees, visitors and parking. Senior Revenue and Public Works Department officials have inspected the shortlisted sites on the instructions of PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

Space constraints

Fort St George has served as the seat of Tamil Nadu’s government and legislature for decades, but space constraints have been a long-standing issue.

The main heritage building houses the Assembly and offices of the Chief Minister and ministers, while ministers handling BC, MBC and Labour Welfare portfolios are housed in the garage block.

The government is also shifting Vijay’s office from the main heritage building to the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, which is within the Fort St George complex. The move is intended to provide more space and facilities for officials, staff and visiting dignitaries.

Earlier attempts

This is not the first attempt to move the Assembly and Secretariat from Fort St George. In 2003, the Jayalalithaa government sanctioned a new Secretariat complex with an Assembly Hall on about 43.2 acres at Kotturpuram near Anna University. Jayalalithaa laid the foundation stone in October 2003, but the project did not proceed.

The DMK government led by M Karunanidhi later built a new Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at Omandurar Government Estate. The Assembly moved there in 2010.

After Jayalalithaa returned to power in 2011, the Assembly and Secretariat were shifted back to Fort St George, while the Omandurar complex was converted into a multi-speciality hospital and medical college.

Airport row

The proposed relocation comes amid political debate over major infrastructure projects, including the Parandur airport. On August 25, TVK and DMK members exchanged allegations in the Assembly over the government’s decision to scrap the proposed greenfield airport.

Law Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar referred to “G Square Maapillai”, while PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna alleged that realtors linked to a political party had purchased large parcels of land before the airport’s Detailed Project Report was released. DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu responded, “For which lottery son-in-law is the new airport project being developed?”

The exchange followed Vijay’s Rule 110 announcement that the Parandur project would be scrapped and an alternative site identified. He cited environmental concerns, the impact on agricultural land and possible livelihood losses, while saying Chennai needs a second airport to meet its long-term passenger, industrial and cargo requirements.

The government plans to identify alternative sites in consultation with experts, after which the Airports Authority of India will conduct feasibility studies. The Civil Aviation Ministry had granted in-principle approval for the proposed greenfield international airport at Parandur in April 2025.

(With input from agencies)

(Edited by : Vivek Dubey)