Chennai: The government has ordered a Rs.1,200-crore new Assembly and Secretariat complex in Mylapore without conducting even a basic feasibility study or assessing the suitability of the 25.55-acre site, according to RTI replies obtained by residents.
The proposed complex, spread over 20 lakh square feet, is intended to house the Legislature and the Secretariat, which currently function from separate locations. The government has identified 25.55 acres in Mylapore for the project through a government order (G.O. Ms. No. 564) issued by the public works department on September 8, 2026. Officials have been asked to submit a detailed project report (DPR) within three months.
The residents questioned how such a major public infrastructure project was planned without documented preliminary assessments.
In replies under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the public (buildings) department has said it had no feasibility report for the project. The Chennai Circle of the Public Works Department also said it had no records relating to a needs assessment, site selection study, pre-feasibility study or cost-benefit analysis.
The department, as per the RTI reply, had no records explaining why a feasibility study was considered unnecessary before preparing the DPR.
The absence of these documents has raised questions about the basis on which the government identified the Mylapore site. The residents want to know whether alternative locations were considered and whether the land was assessed for its suitability before the government issued the order.
Under established government procedures for public works, major projects are expected to undergo technical examination, cost estimation, and appropriate administrative and financial scrutiny.
The Tamil Nadu Budget Manual also mandates site investigation and technical assessment in the preparation of major works. However, whether a separate feasibility report was mandatory before issuing this particular G.O. depends on the nature of the approval and the applicable procedures.
The residents have demanded that the government disclose the studies, if any, conducted before selecting the site and explain the reasons for choosing Mylapore for a project involving public expenditure of Rs. 1,200 crore.
A resident told Deccan Chronicle that the village panchayats will hold a press conference at the Moolikuppam Srinivasapuram Fishermen Community Welfare Hall at 10 am on Thursday to present the RTI replies and explain their objections.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
