Tamil Nadu Government Considers Island Grounds for New Chennai Secretariat Complex

The Tamil Nadu government is considering Island Grounds in Chennai as an alternative location for the proposed new Assembly and Secretariat complex, following opposition to the earlier plan to construct the facility at Pattinapakkam.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced in the State Assembly that a modern Assembly and Secretariat complex would be developed across 20 lakh square feet at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore.

An order had been issued to construct the complex at a site in Pattinapakkam, near the Chief Minister`s residence. However, fishing communities in surrounding villages have opposed the proposal and have been staging protests.

Island Grounds Emerges as an Alternative Location

The state government is now considering the 13.22-acre Pallavan House complex at Island Grounds as a possible alternative site for the new Secretariat.

The premises currently accommodate the headquarters of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), along with two bus depots.

Officials cited several potential advantages of the location, including its existing government ownership and connectivity through buses, suburban trains and Chennai Metro services.

The site could also avoid the need to acquire additional private land or displace local residents, according to officials quoted in the report.

MTC and SETC Headquarters May Need Relocation

If Island Grounds is selected for the new Secretariat complex, the government would need to identify an alternative location for the transport corporations` headquarters and associated facilities.

One option under consideration is the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) at Koyambedu, which could potentially accommodate the transport corporations` administrative offices.

However, the relocation proposal and the final selection of the Secretariat site remain subject to government decisions.

Previous Chennai Secretariat Projects

The proposed project comes amid a history of changes to plans for a new Secretariat complex in Chennai.

The earlier DMK government constructed a new Secretariat complex at the Omandurar Government Estate at a cost exceeding ₹1,000 crore. The complex was subsequently converted into a government hospital.

In 2003, former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a proposal to build a new Secretariat at Queen Mary`s College. The plan was abandoned following student protests over the proposed use of part of the college campus.

Kotturpuram was also examined as an alternative location in 2004, but the proposal did not proceed to a final decision.

New Secretariat Plan Awaits Final Location Decision

The Tamil Nadu government is continuing to examine options for the proposed Assembly and Secretariat complex,x, with Island Grounds emerging as a possible alternative to Pattinapakkam.

The final location, relocation of existing offices and implementation timeline will depend on further government decisions and official announcements.