Tamil Nadu CM announces ₹1,200 crore integrated Secretariat complex in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced a plan to construct a new integrated Secretariat complex in Chennai. The facility, spread over 20 lakh square feet, is estimated to cost ₹1,200 crore. The Chief Minister made the announcement through a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly.

The proposed complex will house the Legislative Assembly, the offices of the Chief Minister and Ministers, and various government departments. Mr. Vijay said the complex would be developed with modern facilities, including fire-safety systems, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and adherence to green building standards. It will also include adequate parking, conference halls, public service centres, and other amenities for officials and visitors.

The Chief Minister did not disclose the proposed location for the new complex. He stressed that the project aims to create world-class public administration infrastructure to meet the needs of the next 100 years.

Currently, the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and Legislative Assembly function from the historic Fort St. George campus near Marina Beach. Mr. Vijay recounted the history of the campus, noting that its construction began in 1640 under the English East India Company and was completed in 1644. After becoming a Presidency in 1652, it served as the headquarters of British rule and, after Independence, continued as the State Secretariat for nearly four centuries.

However, the Chief Minister pointed out that only about four acres of the 107-acre Fort St. George campus are under the control of the Tamil Nadu government. The remaining land is managed by the Union Ministry of Defence and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), making expansion or major development impossible.

At present, the Secretariat operates from two buildings. The main Secretariat building, originally the Governor's residence, houses the Legislative Assembly, the offices of the Chief Minister, Ministers, the Chief Secretary, the Finance Department, and other key departments. It has a built-up area of 2.07 lakh square feet. The Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, constructed in 1978, adds 3.75 lakh square feet across 11 floors and accommodates secretaries, officials, and more than 6,000 employees from over 30 departments.

Mr. Vijay recalled that a previous attempt to build a new Secretariat at the Omandurar Government Estate was made during the tenure of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. That building was later converted into a multi-speciality hospital and medical college under the regime of J. Jayalalithaa, and the Secretariat remained at Fort St. George.

Over the past four decades, the administrative workload and staff strength have grown substantially, but the existing infrastructure has remained largely unchanged, reaching a state of stagnation. Since additional construction on Fort St. George is not possible due to Defence and ASI control, the government has decided to build a new integrated complex.

The Chief Minister assured that the existing buildings at Fort St. George will be preserved as heritage structures, respecting their historical significance. The new Secretariat is intended to provide efficient governance and ensure that administrative infrastructure keeps pace with future requirements.