The TVK government’s proposal to construct a new Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex at Pattinapakkam in Chennai’s Foreshore Estate, identifying 26.36 acres for the project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, has come under opposition from fishermen, political parties and sections of the public.
The government, which has been in the process of dropping projects, including the previous government’s greenfield airport project at Parandur, has formally announced the decision to construct the new complex.
Critics have questioned the need for a new project at a time when the state’s debt has crossed Rs 10 lakh crore. They have also raised concerns over the proposed location, citing congestion, its proximity to the coast and its potential impact on the fishing community.
Reportedly, the state government has identified around 26.36 acres at Pattinapakkam, south of Santhome and at the southern end of the Marina coastline, for the proposed complex. The integrated facility is planned to have around 20 lakh sq ft of built-up area spread across a 15-storey structure, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore.
The land identified for the project belonged to community leader Sindhanai Sirpi Singaravelar, who had gifted it to the communities.
VR Vijayan of Maylai Paguthi Aanaithu Meenava Grama Panchyat Sabhai said more than 1,500 families from the fishermen community would have no place to go if the project proceeds.
“We have been demanding that the land be returned to us,” he said.
Site in Pattinapakkam selected by the Tamil Nadu government for the construction of a new Secretariat complex along with the Legislative Assembly. pic.twitter.com/M6oZ0PqljW
— Vignesh Theni (@Vignesh_twitz) September 10, 2026
The proposal has met with opposition from fishermen in villages stretching from Nochikuppam to Srinivasapuram along the Marina Loop Road. They said their livelihood would be affected and their freedom curtailed if the new project comes up in the area.
“We do not have space on beach sands to park our boats, store and mend nets or sell fish,” they said.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the decision to construct a new Assembly in Pattinapakkam lacked “foresight”, arguing that the area was already congested.
He pointed out that Santhome High Road and Greenways Road were already facing traffic congestion and that a loop road had been formed to manage traffic. The Foreshore Estate area also has the Santhome Church, leading educational institutions and the offices of the Director General of Registration, resulting in high footfall.
“If the new project is implemented, it will face unmanageable traffic snarls and crowding,” he said.
பட்டினப்பாக்கத்தில் புதிய தலைமைச் செயலகம்..
"மிகப்பெரிய சிக்கல் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல் ஏற்படும்" – அன்புமணி ராமதாஸ்#Anbumani | #PMK | #Chennai | #NEWSecretariat pic.twitter.com/0E5qaFi2ar
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) September 9, 2026
A netizen said a new Secretariat should not have been the government’s priority given the state’s “precarious fiscal position”.
The netizen also opposed the Pattinapakkam location, citing concerns including its coastal zone status and the traffic bottleneck, and described the project as something that “could end up as a vanity project”.
1. A new Secretariat should not have been this government’s priority, given the state’s precarious fiscal position.
2. And, the new Secretariat at Pattinappakkam is wrong for multiple reasons such as coastal zone, traffic bottleneck, etc.
It could end up as a vanity project. https://t.co/GyTelEj9AL
— T.N. Raghu (@tnrags) September 9, 2026
Another netizen said the location was a key coastal link road connecting central and south Chennai and warned that major development in the area could further worsen traffic.
The post also raised environmental concerns, pointing to the vulnerability of the location and the presence of a water body in close proximity.
“The location itself raises serious questions on traffic, accessibility and environmental impact. So opposition expected from many sides,” the netizen said.
Expected this one.
Pattinapakkam is a densely populated area, with residential neighbourhoods, several schools and fishermen settlements along the coast.
The Foreshore Estate junction is already a cramped signal, with all four sides getting heavily congested during peak hours,… https://t.co/vNHyzknhvF
— Sanjeevee sadagopan (@sanjusadagopan) September 9, 2026
DMK MP P Wilson raised questions over the use of the site and referred to undertakings given before the Madras High Court regarding the redevelopment of government staff quarters at Foreshore Estate.
“When the Tamil Nadu Housing Board evicted government servants from the flats in Foreshore Estate, the Board and the government assured them before the Madras High Court that they would build multi-storey residential apartments and rehouse them in these flats once completed. Subsequently, the High Court was also promised a share of the allotment for its staff after the construction was finished. Is this not a breach of the undertaking given before the Madras High Court?” Wilson said.
He also raised concerns over the Coastal Regulation Zone classification of the site and the feasibility of constructing the proposed complex.
“Considering that the designated site falls within the CRZ-II zone, the FSI could be less than 1.97,” he said.
“Can a large-scale project worth Rs 1,200 crore, covering 20 lakh sq ft, be accommodated on narrow roads, causing traffic chaos and encroaching on fishermen’s territory? Is this site being chosen simply because it is near CM Vijay’s residence, which might displace many fishermen and endanger their livelihoods through security threats?” he asked.
When the Tamil Nadu Housing Board evicted government servants from the flats in Foreshore Estate, the Board and the government assured them before the Madras High Court that they would build multi-storey residential apartments and rehouse them in these flats once completed.… pic.twitter.com/i86En5G2Pb
— P. Wilson (@PWilsonDMK) September 10, 2026
The CPI has also opposed the establishment of the Secretariat at Pattinapakkam and urged the government to immediately drop its decision to establish the Secretariat at the location.
Following Anbumani and TTV Dhinakaran, the CPI has also opposed the establishment of the Secretariat at Pattinapakkam.
The CPI has urged the government to immediately drop its decision to establish the Secretariat at Pattinapakkam pic.twitter.com/ytfRJusnW9
— Kannan Jeevanantham (JK) (@Im_kannanj) September 10, 2026
Tamil Nadu BJP leader Ma Venkatesan has called for the proposed project to be shifted to Guindy, arguing that this could be done without affecting the fishing community.
“Shift the new project to Guindy without affecting anyone and drop the current location,” Venkatesan said in a post on X.
He said the area was called Foreshore Estate during the British regime and was renamed Pattinapakkam in 1968 when the Second World Tamil Conference was held.
Venkatesan said fisherfolk from Srinivasapuram, Mullikuppam, Nocchikuppam, Duming Kuppam, Bhavani Kuppam, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Irudhayarpuram, Selvarajpuram and Nambikkai Nagar depended on the sea for their livelihood.
He also described the area as a school zone, saying more than 10,000 students study in schools located there.
He said land parcels measuring more than 40 acres were available in Guindy and urged the government to consider the location.
“On behalf of BJP, I request you to locate the same to this place,” he said.
யாருக்கும் பாதகம் இல்லாதவகையில் கிண்டியில் தலைமைச் செயலகம் அமைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்க…! பட்டினப்பாக்கத்தை கைவிடுக…!
பிரிட்டிஷ் காலத்தில் 'போர்ஷோர் எஸ்டேட்' (Foreshore Estate) என்று அழைக்கப்பட்ட இப்பகுதிக்கு, 1968-இல் நடைபெற்ற 2-வது உலகத் தமிழ் மாநாட்டின் போது தமிழ்நாடு அரசு… pic.twitter.com/LVoHzK0QEq
— Ma.Venkatesan (@MaVenkatesanbjp) September 10, 2026
The proposed Secretariat project also comes against the backdrop of earlier plans for the Pattinapakkam area.
In 2021, the then DMK-led government had announced plans to develop a 25-acre site at Pattinapakkam into the Marina Business Centre.
During the DMK government headed by M Karunanidhi, a new Assembly building was constructed at Government Estate. Jayalalithaa, who succeeded him as Chief Minister in 2011, converted the building into a multi-speciality hospital.
Earlier, in 2002, Jayalalithaa had proposed building a massive new administrative city closely tied to the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) corridor to house the State Assembly and shift the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly from the centuries-old Fort St George.
However, the proposal could not materialise due to various reasons following opposition from the Queen Mary’s College area.
