Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Vijay Plans ₹1,200-Crore Tamil Nadu Secretariat Complex
Tamil Nadu plans to build a new place for its Assembly and government offices.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the plan in the state Assembly.
The building would be in Chennai and is expected to cost ₹1,200 crore.
It would bring many government departments together in one large campus.
The complex would include parking, conference halls, public service centers, safety systems, and facilities for people with disabilities.
The government says the current Fort St George site is crowded and cannot easily be expanded.
Fort St George’s historic buildings would still be protected.
Vijay also proposed sports cities for Olympic training and motor racing.
AIADMK criticized the plan because it said the state already faces a large debt burden.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a new Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex in Chennai.
The proposed complex would cost ₹1,200 crore and cover 20 lakh square feet.
The facility would bring all state government departments together and include modern, accessible, and eco-friendly features.
Fort St George would be preserved as a heritage site, though the new complex’s precise Chennai location was not specified.
Vijay also announced plans for a Tamil Nadu Olympic City and Motor Sports City, while AIADMK criticized the Secretariat proposal amid state debt concerns.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the proposals, while AIADMK criticized the Secretariat plan.
- What
- The government proposed a new integrated Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex, a Tamil Nadu Olympic City, and a Motor Sports City.
- When
- The announcements were made on Thursday, September 3; one report identifies the year as 2026.
- Where
- The proposed projects would be located in Chennai; the administration currently operates from Fort St George.
- Why
- Vijay said the new complex would address overcrowding and space constraints, consolidate departments, and provide modern administrative facilities.
Government rationale
Opposition criticism
Need for a new complex
Government rationale
Vijay said the ageing Fort St George infrastructure is overcrowded, cannot be expanded easily, and is too constrained to accommodate the state’s growing departments and staff.
Opposition criticism
AIADMK accused the government of prioritizing personal convenience and publicity over public welfare, particularly while the state faces substantial debt.
Use of public funds
Government rationale
The government presented the ₹1,200-crore project as necessary for efficient, modern, accessible, and eco-friendly administration, while preserving Fort St George’s heritage buildings.
Opposition criticism
A critical report questioned the spending in light of debt figures it attributed to government disclosures, including ₹13.18 lakh crore in total state debt and ₹3.18 lakh crore in public-sector undertaking liabilities.
Location and heritage
Government rationale
The proposed complex would allow departments to operate from one campus, while Fort St George would be preserved without altering its heritage character.
Opposition criticism
The precise construction site within Chennai was not specified, and the proposal follows earlier attempts to relocate the Secretariat that did not remain in effect.
- Estimated Secretariat cost
- ₹1,200 crore
- Proposed built-up area
- 20 lakh square feet
- Current administrative site
- Fort St George, Chennai
- Fort St George land control
- Vijay said the government controls approximately 4 acres of the 107-acre campus; the remaining area is managed by the Defence and Archaeological Survey of India.
- Planned complex features
- Government offices, parking, conference halls, public service centers, fire-safety systems, disability-access features, green-building standards, and staff amenities.
- Additional Chennai proposals
- Tamil Nadu Olympic City and Motor Sports City.
- Debt figures cited by a critical report
- The report attributed figures of ₹13.18 lakh crore in total Tamil Nadu debt and ₹2.47 lakh crore in Electricity Board debt to government disclosures.
