Tamil Nadu Plans ₹1,200 Crore Integrated Secretariat Complex in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Plans New Integrated Secretariat Complex in Chennai

Tamil Nadu is set to plan a new integrated Secretariat complex in Chennai, with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announcing a proposed investment of ₹1,200 crore for the project.

The proposed complex will spread across 20 lakh sq. ft. and is intended to bring the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister’s office, Ministers’ offices and various government departments under one modern administrative campus.

The announcement comes as the State continues to operate its Secretariat from the historic Fort St. George campus near Marina Beach. According to the Chief Minister, the existing facilities have become increasingly constrained as government departments have expanded and administrative responsibilities have grown over the past four decades.

The proposed development is expected to include modern fire-safety systems, facilities for persons with disabilities and green building features. Plans also include adequate parking, conference halls, public service centres and upgraded facilities for government officials.

However, the government has not yet disclosed where the new Secretariat complex will be located.

Space constraints at Fort St. George

Fort St. George has been at the centre of Tamil Nadu’s administrative functioning for centuries. The historic complex, whose construction began in 1640 and was completed in 1644, continued as the State Secretariat after Independence.

The 107-acre campus has significant restrictions on further development. Only around four acres are currently used by the Tamil Nadu government for Secretariat functions, while much of the remaining land is controlled by the Union Ministry of Defence and the Archaeological Survey of India.

The existing Secretariat operates mainly from two buildings. The main Secretariat building has a built-up area of about 2.07 lakh sq. ft., while Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, constructed in 1978, provides another 3.75 lakh sq. ft. of space.

More than 6,000 employees from over 30 government departments currently work across these buildings, highlighting the pressure on the existing administrative infrastructure.

The government has also said that the heritage buildings at Fort St. George will be preserved, even as a new integrated facility is developed to meet future requirements.

The latest proposal therefore represents not just a new government building, but a broader attempt to address Chennai’s long-standing administrative space constraints while retaining Fort St. George’s historic character.