The Tamil Nadu government has finalised Foreshore Estate in Chennai as the site for a new Assembly-secretariat complex, with the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) granting permission for the government to use the land, as reported in Times of India.
The proposed complex will come up on around 25.16 acres at Foreshore Estate. Government sources told The Times of India that an order granting in-principle administrative sanction for the project is expected shortly.
The main building is planned as a 15-storey structure with around 20 lakh sq ft of built-up space. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had last week said the project would be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore.
The land under consideration has access from Santhome Main Road. The TNHB land has a guideline value of around ₹22,000 per sq ft, putting its estimated value at approximately ₹2,047 crore.
The government had earlier shortlisted three possible locations for the project — Foreshore Estate, the Highways Research Station in Guindy and a site opposite Fintech City in Nandambakkam. Officials said the availability of around 25 acres at Foreshore Estate made it the preferred option.
TNHB Gives ‘Enter Upon Permission’
Following a formal request from the state government, the TNHB on Saturday granted ‘enter upon permission’ to the Public Works Department to use 21.37 acres of its land in Mylapore.
The land comprises three survey numbers — Survey No. 4593/1 measuring 0.55 acre, Survey No. 4593/29 measuring 0.15 acre and Survey No. 4593/33 measuring 20.67 acres.
The parcels were acquired in 1958 for housing projects. Between 1963 and 1968, 1,112 government employees’ quarters and 96 TNHB quarters were constructed on the site. Another 60 quarters were added in 1986 and 112 in 1998, taking the total to 1,380 residential quarters.
However, 1,284 of these quarters subsequently became dilapidated and were demolished, leaving the majority of the earmarked site vacant. The TNHB has now initiated steps to demolish its remaining 96 residential quarters.
As a result, the proposed project is not expected to involve major displacement of local residents, with most of the land currently consisting of vacant public property and the existing structures being government or TNHB quarters.
TNHB Seeks Compensation For Land
While granting permission, the TNHB has sought payment for the value of the land in accordance with government rules.
“TNHB has said the value of the land should be assessed and paid to it in accordance with govt rules. It has also requested govt to consider providing alternative land to compensate for the transfer, if such land is available,” a government official said.
In a letter to the Chennai Collector, TNHB also stated that it had no objection to the use of land covered under Survey Nos. 7588/2 and 4592/79.
The government had transferred 1.13 acres under Survey No. 7588/2 in Mylapore village in 1997 for the construction of government rental housing.
For the 1.73-acre parcel under Survey No. 4592/79, the TNHB said acquisition files and other records were unavailable. Revenue records, however, appeared to classify the land as government poramboke land.
GCC Clears Additional Land
The Greater Chennai Corporation has separately granted permission to the Public Works Department to use 0.93 acres of land covered under Survey No. 4593/2. The parcel is classified for road use.
According to a letter issued by GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran on September 5, the corporation has no objection to the proposed use of the land.
With the TNHB and GCC parcels together, the site will cover around 25 acres. Government sources said additional land under the Revenue Department could take the total project site to approximately 26.5 acres.
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