Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's office to shift from British-era Fort to modern building

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's office will soon be shifting its operations from the historic British-era Fort St George to modern Namakkal Kavignar Maalaigai soon due to paucity of space.

The move marks a shift in the tradition followed by the Chief Ministers for nearly six decades in functioning from the Fort except between 2010 and 2011 when then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had shifted the Secretariat close to Chennai Port to Omandurar estate, which is about two km away.

It was reverted back to the Fort after J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK stormed to power in May 2011. She had ordered the swift relocation to the Fort and the first Assembly session was held on May 23.


According to an official, the CM's office will be shifted to the 10th floor of the Namakkal Kavignar Maalaigai and he would have the option to use the present Chamber for specific functions.

Public Works Department officials are overseeing the transition and they have started to measure the extent of the area to dismantle the fixtures and establish the new office. The official said the process of relocating the sections of some of the government departments such as Information and Tamil Development, Home, and Commercial Taxes department, also to the 10th floor of the Namakkal Kavignar Maalaigai, which is located close to the present office of the Chief Minister and the Legislative Assembly.

"The PWD has commenced the preliminary work and the transition is expected to be completed by mid-August," the official said.

The existing large dining hall is likely to be converted into the CM's office. It would offer a clear view of the Bay of Bengal.