The Tamil Nadu government has not yet taken a final decision on the proposed new Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam. Minister Nirmal Kumar said on September 24, 2026, that the proposal is under review and that other potential locations within Chennai are also being examined. He did not confirm that the Pattinapakkam project had been cancelled and said the concerned minister would make an official announcement.
The proposed Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam remains under consideration by the Tamil Nadu government. When asked whether the government had withdrawn its decision to construct the Secretariat at Pattinapakkam, Minister Nirmal Kumar did not confirm cancellation of the project.
According to the minister, the government is also studying other possible locations within Chennai for the Secretariat. The final decision on the Pattinapakkam site has not been made public.
Under the original plan, a new Secretariat complex was proposed on approximately 25 acres at Pattinapakkam. The proposed building was expected to have 15 floors, with the project estimated to cost around ₹1,200 crore.
The government had approved the initial process for land acquisition, while the Public Works Department (PWD) was in the process of preparing a detailed project report.
The proposal was part of a broader plan to modernise Tamil Nadu's administrative infrastructure. The government had earlier proposed constructing a new integrated Secretariat and Assembly complex to replace the existing Fort St George complex. The proposed project was intended to include modern infrastructure facilities.
The local fishing community opposed the proposal after the plan to construct the Secretariat at Pattinapakkam emerged. Fishermen have said that the proposed land and surrounding area have long been associated with traditional fishing settlements and activities.
Local community members have also raised questions over land rights and usage. In September, fishermen claimed that approximately 25.52 acres had previously been used for the rehabilitation and welfare of fishing families. The community said it was collecting records related to its claim over the land, citing old government documents and orders.
The fishermen's main concerns include traditional livelihoods, access to the sea, movement of boats and fishing equipment, and the potential impact on coastal settlements.
Pattinapakkam is a densely populated coastal area in south Chennai, where residential areas, schools and traditional fishing settlements are located close to one another. Local residents have also raised concerns about potential pressure on traffic, public facilities and the coastal environment from the proposed government complex.
In September, fishing organisations held meetings to oppose the proposed project and discuss demands for the government to change the site. Some organisations warned that the agitation could be intensified if the government did not reconsider their objections.
According to information issued by the government on September 24, a large presence of fishermen and local residents was also seen in opposition to the Pattinapakkam project. The government subsequently clarified that the project was under review.
Political parties have also raised objections to the selection of Pattinapakkam for the Secretariat. Earlier, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss had demanded that the government abandon the proposed complex at Pattinapakkam. He suggested developing an integrated administrative city over a large area outside Chennai.
Other political leaders have also raised issues concerning traffic, land availability, the environment and the livelihood of the fishing community. The dispute over the project has therefore extended beyond the construction site to questions concerning urban planning and the use of coastal areas.
The government is considering both the need to identify suitable land for a modern and integrated Secretariat complex and the objections raised by local communities over the proposed site.
If an alternative location is considered, the government would need to assess factors including land availability, administrative access, traffic arrangements, infrastructure and environmental impact.
If the government proceeds with the existing site, the objections raised by the fishing community and political parties would remain part of the issue surrounding the project. At present, the government has neither formally cancelled the Pattinapakkam project nor announced a new site.
Following Minister Nirmal Kumar's statement, the direction of the Secretariat project remains undecided. The government has confirmed that Pattinapakkam is under review and that other potential locations in Chennai are being studied, but an official announcement on the final site is still pending.
It therefore cannot yet be stated that the Pattinapakkam Secretariat project has been completely cancelled or shifted to another location. The government's next official announcement will clarify the future of the project and its proposed construction site.
