Chennai: The new assembly-secretariat complex will come up at Foreshore Estate, govt sources confirmed to TOI.Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Saturday gave the ‘enter upon permission’ nod for the complex to be built on 25.16 acres. The govt is likely to issue an order shortly granting in-principle administrative sanction for the project.The main building would be a 15-storey structure of 20 lakh sqft built-up space. The TNHB land, which has access from Santhome main road, carries a guideline value of 22,000 per sqft, taking its estimated value to ₹2,047 crore. Chief minister C Joseph Vijay last week said it would be built at ₹1,200 crore.The govt had shortlisted three locations — Foreshore Estate, Highways Research Station in Guindy and a site opposite Fintech City in Nandambakkam. “The availability of 25 acres at Foreshore Estate makes it an ideal location,” said an official.Following a formal request from the govt, TNHB on Saturday granted ‘enter upon permission’ to the public department to use 21.37 acres of its land in Mylapore. The land comprises three survey numbers — 4593/1 (0.55 acre), 4593/29 (0.15 acre) and 4593/33 (20.67 acres). The parcels were acquired in 1958 for housing projects. Between 1963 and 1968, 1,112 govt employees’ quarters and 96 TNHB quarters were built there. Another 60 quarters were built in 1986 and 112 in 1998, taking the total to 1,380. Of these, 1,284 quarters had become dilapidated. Since the demolition of the structures, the site has remained vacant. TNHB has initiated steps to demolish its own 96 residential quarters.“TNHB has said the value of the land should be assessed and paid to it in accordance with govt rules. It has also requested govt to consider providing alternative land to compensate for the transfer, if such land is available,” said the official.In a letter to Chennai collector, TNHB said it had no objection to the use of the land covered under Survey No.s 7588/2 and 4592/79. In 1997, govt had transferred 1.13 acres in Survey No. 7588/2 in Mylapore village for the construction of govt rental housing. Regarding the 1.73 acres covered under Survey No. 4592/79, the board said acquisition files and other records were unavailable. Revenue records, however, appeared to classify the parcel as govt poramboke land.GCC has also given permission to public dept to use 0.93 acres. According to a letter issued by GCC commissioner G S Sameeran on Sept 5, the land, covered under Survey No. 4593/2, is classified for road use. “The land parcels add up to 25 acres, and with some more land under revenue dept, the site will cover 26.5 acres,” said a govt source.
