Anbumani urges Tamil Nadu government to build new Secretariat outside Chennai

A reported shift in the proposed location of Tamil Nadu’s new Secretariat has prompted PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss to ask the State government to drop any plan to build it within Chennai’s city limits.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Anbumani said the government should instead examine the possibility of constructing the complex outside Chennai, as proposed by his party.

He was responding to reports that the government was considering land occupied by Pallavan Illam on Anna Salai for the project. The reported location differs from an earlier proposal to construct the Secretariat in Pattinapakkam.

Anbumani seeks clarity on Pallavan Illam proposal

Anbumani expressed shock over the reported consideration of Pallavan Illam and called for the government to clarify whether the reports were true.

“The Tamil Nadu government must clarify whether the media reports about constructing the Secretariat at Pallavan Illam are true,” he said.

He argued that the reasons cited against constructing the new Secretariat in Pattinapakkam would apply even more strongly to Pallavan Illam.

“If there are numerous reasons and justifications for not constructing the new Secretariat in Pattinapakkam, there are a hundred times more compelling reasons for not building it at Pallavan Illam,” he said.

According to Anbumani, traffic congestion would be impossible to resolve if the Secretariat was built at the reported site.

Traffic concerns on Anna Salai

Anbumani said the area around Pallavan Illam was already among Chennai’s most congested locations.

“If Chennai’s most congested traffic locations were ranked, the area around Pallavan Illam would figure among the top three,” he said.

He described Anna Salai as one of Chennai’s principal roads and said it was already struggling with severe traffic congestion.

“If the new Secretariat is established at Pallavan Illam, controlling traffic congestion on Anna Salai would become virtually impossible,” he asserted.

Difference in available land

Anbumani also compared the land available at the two locations.

According to him, the entire Pallavan Illam site measures 13.22 acres, while the Pattinapakkam site measures around 26.36 acres.

He also referred to an earlier allocation made during the DMK government led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

“During the DMK government led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, 39.54 acres were earmarked in 2007 for constructing a new Secretariat on Omandurar Government Estate,” he said.

Anbumani said the land occupied by the buildings originally constructed to house the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly Secretariat measures 19.48 acres.

Those buildings now accommodate the Omandurar Multi Super Speciality Hospital and medical colleges, he said.

Source: The Hindu