Tamil Nadu Considers Guindy Site for New Assembly and Secretariat Complex

The Tamil Nadu government is considering a proposal to relocate the Legislative Assembly and Secretariat out of the historic Fort St George campus, with the Highways Department office premises in Guindy shortlisted as one of four potential sites for a new integrated administrative complex.

According to government sources, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is likely to announce the relocation plan on Wednesday during the ongoing Assembly session. The proposed shift would mark a major administrative transition for the state, as Fort St George has served as the seat of Tamil Nadu's government and legislature for decades.

State officials are currently evaluating four separate locations for the construction of the new complex. Alongside the site in Guindy, the government is examining land options in Pattinapakkam, Nandambakkam, and Koyambedu to house both the state Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly within a unified campus.

The development comes amid wider political debates in the Assembly over major state infrastructure. On August 25, exchanges took place between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the government's decision to cancel the proposed Parandur airport project.

During the session, Law Minister Nirmal Kumar and PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna raised concerns regarding land transactions linked to the Parandur project prior to the release of its Detailed Project Report. DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu questioned the ruling party during the exchange regarding the beneficiaries of alternative plans.

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had previously announced under Rule 110 that the Greenfield international airport project at Parandur would be scrapped in favor of an alternative location. He cited environmental considerations, the preservation of agricultural land, and the protection of local livelihoods, while noting that Chennai still requires a second airport to meet future passenger and cargo demands.

The state government is expected to finalize its evaluation of the proposed Secretariat sites, including Guindy, as plans for the new administrative headquarters progress.