Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a new integrated Assembly-Secretariat complex. The ₹1,200-crore Chennai project will cover 20 lakh square feet, while its exact location and construction schedule are yet to be announced.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced plans to construct a new integrated Legislative Assembly and Secretariat complex in Chennai at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore.

The proposed complex will have a built-up area of approximately 20 lakh square feet and bring state government departments together within a modern administrative campus. Vijay made the announcement under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

The decision indicates that the Assembly and Secretariat could eventually move out of their present premises at the historic Fort St George. However, the government has not yet disclosed the final site, construction schedule, financing stages or expected completion date.

Vijay presented the integrated complex as an administrative infrastructure project intended to improve coordination among government departments and provide modern facilities for legislators, officials, employees and visitors.

The new campus is expected to accommodate the Legislative Assembly, Secretariat offices and various government departments that currently operate from different buildings or face space constraints.

The Chief Minister said the complex would be designed with contemporary infrastructure. Reports indicate that its plans will include fire-safety systems, accessibility features for persons with disabilities and green-building standards.

A location within Chennai will be selected for the project, but the government did not identify the site in its initial announcement. Earlier reports suggested that multiple locations were being considered before the formal declaration.

At 20 lakh square feet, the proposed campus would become one of the state’s largest administrative building projects. Its ₹1,200-crore preliminary estimate covers the integrated complex, though detailed expenditure will depend on the final design, site and tender process.

Housing major departments within one campus could reduce travel between government offices and improve coordination on policy and administrative decisions. The project could also offer upgraded digital systems, meeting facilities, public-service areas and legislative infrastructure.

Further clarity is expected through a detailed project report. That document would normally outline land requirements, environmental considerations, traffic access, security arrangements, construction phases and funding. The government’s announcement confirmed the project’s scale and purpose, but operational details remain pending.

Fort St George has long been associated with the administrative and legislative history of Tamil Nadu. Moving the Assembly and Secretariat to a new campus would therefore represent a major institutional transition.

The government’s announcement signals its intention to create a purpose-built complex, but it does not mean that Fort St George will close immediately. The Assembly and government departments are expected to continue operating from their existing premises until the new campus is completed and formally commissioned.

Tamil Nadu previously shifted its Assembly to a new complex in 2010 before returning it to Fort St George in 2011. That history is likely to make the location, design and future use of existing government buildings important issues as the latest proposal advances.

Vijay also announced plans to establish a world-class Tamil Nadu Olympic City in Chennai. The proposed sports hub is expected to include training centres, competition venues, sports-science facilities and medical infrastructure.

The project aims to prepare Tamil Nadu athletes for national and international competitions and improve the state’s chances of winning more medals at major sporting events.

A Motor Sports City was announced as another major initiative. The proposed facility is expected to include international-standard racing tracks, motorsport training infrastructure and facilities capable of hosting major competitions.

The government expects the two sports projects to support athlete development, tourism, employment and sporting events. Detailed information about their locations, costs and implementation schedules is awaited.