In a move that has sparked widespread public backlash and political controversy, the DMK government is reportedly preparing to sell Amma wedding halls in Chennai to private buyers. These state-built halls, constructed under the AIADMK regime in 2016, were originally intended to serve economically disadvantaged communities by offering affordable and well-equipped venues for weddings and other family events.
Revelations obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request have brought the issue to light. According to the disclosed documents, two Amma wedding halls near Chennai—built at a combined cost of ₹22 crore—are being considered for sale due to claimed lack of public use. This decision has ignited criticism from both citizens and political observers who argue that the government is neglecting infrastructure meant for public welfare.
During the AIADMK government’s tenure, Amma wedding halls were constructed with amenities on par with private banquet facilities. These included air-conditioning, modern kitchens, elevators, and ample parking. Six such halls were developed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board in locations like Avadi, Ayapakkam, Velachery, Korattur, Madurai, and Theni, at a total cost of ₹65 crore.
However, only the halls in Madurai and Theni are currently operational. In contrast, the Chennai-based halls remain closed. Notably, the Avadi hall—built at ₹10.2 crore—sits unused in a Housing Board area behind Avadi Corporation. The Ayapakkam facility, constructed at a cost of ₹12 crore, was used as a COVID-19 treatment center during the pandemic but has since fallen into disrepair. Reports indicate that the hall has been stripped of air conditioners, wiring, and other fittings by vandals, leaving the structure in a dilapidated state.
Social activist Tharanitharan, who filed the RTI, questioned the Housing Board on the status of the halls. In its response, the Board cited poor public reception as the reason for non-operation and shockingly confirmed that steps are underway to sell the properties to private parties. Tharanitharan and others argue that these halls could serve the local population if they were properly maintained and opened, rather than being left idle and then offloaded to private entities.
Critics have accused the DMK administration of deliberately neglecting these assets in order to justify their privatization. They argue that the Amma wedding halls—part of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s broader “Amma” welfare initiative—were created to ease the financial burden on lower- and middle-income families. Selling them off, they claim, undermines the original purpose and disproportionately affects those who rely on public infrastructure.
Announced in September 2016, the Amma wedding halls were envisioned as part of a larger initiative to construct similar venues at 11 locations across Tamil Nadu, including major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Salem, at an estimated cost of ₹83 crore.
Local residents and activists have called for the halls to be renovated and put into use rather than handed over to private interests, emphasizing that these government-funded facilities were never meant to become abandoned properties or profit-making assets for private developers.
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