New Tamil Nadu Secretariat to come up on 26-acre plot near CM Vijay's home

The Tamil Nadu government has identified 25.55 acres at Pattinapakkam for a new Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex near Chief Minister Vijay's residence. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss opposed the plan, citing traffic concerns and limited space, and urged the government to build a 500-1,000-acre integrated administrative city outside Chennai instead.Tamil Nadu govt identifies land for Secretariat near CM Vijay’s residenceThe Joseph C Vijay government has identified a 25.55 acre of land to construct a new building complex, including a Legislative Assembly and a Secretariat with all modern facilities at Foreshore Estate, Pattinapakkam, as per a government order sent to the state Public (Buildings) Department on Wednesday. The new secretariat will also be constructed close to Chief Minister Vijay's residence.Earlier in the day, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss asked the Tamil Nadu government to drop its plan to build a new Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam in Chennai, flagging traffic congestion and high-footfall landmarks such as the famous Santhome Church, renowned schools and the Inspector General of Registration office located in the vicinity.In its place, he called for a large integrated administrative city spread across 500 to 1,000 acres outside the state capital, saying such a project would better meet the state’s governance needs over the next 100 years.In a statement issued in response to media reports, Anbumani described the proposed Rs 1,200 crore Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex as a “shortsighted” move and said that, although Tamil Nadu needed a modern Secretariat, locating it there would create more problems than benefits. Anbumani said the area around Santhome High Road and Greenways Road was already under severe traffic pressure despite the construction of a loop road. Placing a large government complex near densely populated localities, major schools and Santhome Church would, he warned, further choke movement in the neighbourhood.The former Union minister also said the 26.36-acre site would be far too small once space was set aside for mandatory FSI compliance, green areas, fire stations, emergency medical units, parking and public transport connectivity. “Building it on a restricted plot will inevitably replicate the current space constraints within a few years,” he said. Referring to Vijay’s stated view that the new complex should serve the state’s needs for the next century, Anbumani said both global and historical examples supported shifting administrative centres to dedicated greenfield locations. He urged the government to acquire at least 500 to 1,000 acres outside Chennai for a self-contained administrative city.He said such a township should include the Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly, department headquarters, residences for the Chief Minister, ministers and civil servants, and infrastructure such as Metro connectivity, helipads, schools, colleges, sports arenas and commercial complexes. Anbumani’s demand was that the government abandon the Pattinapakkam proposal and instead plan a larger administrative hub outside Chennai.- EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 19:19 IST