Fishing communities in Chennai’s Pattinapakkam have opposed Tamil Nadu’s proposed ₹1,200-crore Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex, warning that construction, traffic controls and security restrictions could disrupt coastal livelihoods. A fisherman quoted in an India Today report said around 1,200–1,300 families from Mullikuppam and Mullimanagar could be directly affected. That figure is a community estimate, not an official government displacement count.
The state issued in-principle approval on September 8 for a 20-lakh-square-foot complex on 25.55 acres in Mylapore town, with Foreshore Estate identified as the proposed location. The Tamil Nadu Public Works Department must prepare a detailed project report within three months, so the project remains at the planning stage.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from PMK, AMMK, BJP and DMK leaders, while environmental concerns have focused on the coastal location and future congestion in south Chennai.
Key Highlights
- Tamil Nadu has approved a ₹1,200-crore Assembly-cum-Secretariat proposal in principle.
- The proposed complex would cover 20 lakh square feet across 25.55 acres.
- Fishing representatives say nine nearby settlements could face livelihood and access problems.
- One local representative estimates 1,200–1,300 families may be directly affected.
- Fishing organisations plan a September 15 meeting at Srinivasapuram to decide further action.
What Has Tamil Nadu Approved At Pattinapakkam?
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the new integrated Assembly and Secretariat complex in the Assembly on September 3 under Rule 110. Government Order Ms No. 564, dated September 8, later granted in-principle approval. The proposed complex carries a ₹1,200-crore estimate and 20 lakh square feet of built-up space.
The identified 25.55 acres include 22.89 acres with the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, 0.93 acres with the Greater Chennai Corporation and 1.73 acres with the Revenue Department. Three committees have been formed for architectural selection and design, while the PWD must file the DPR and estimates within three months.
The project is intended to bring the Assembly and state departments into one modern administrative campus, moving them away from the present Secretariat at Fort St George.
Why Are Pattinapakkam Fishing Communities Opposing The Project?
For fishing families, the dispute is not simply about another government building. Residents say their work depends on daily access to the coast, boats, fish markets and nearby roads. They fear a high-security administrative zone could bring closures, police restrictions and tighter movement around the shoreline. Tamil Nadu’s Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare oversees fishing-community welfare programmes across the state.
Fishermen have also claimed that families were shifted from parts of the area in 1958 after being promised improved housing. They argue that land connected with those displaced communities should return to them rather than be used for the Secretariat.
Nine fishing settlements lie close to the proposed site: Mullikuppam, Srinivasapuram, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Bhavani Kuppam, Irudhayapuram, Selvarajpuram, Dooming Kuppam, Nochi Nagar and Nochikuppam.
The local reaction is also visible in Puthiya Thalaimurai’s official X post, where Pattinapakkam residents say they will oppose relocation and want the Secretariat built elsewhere.
Could 1,200–1,300 Families Really Be Affected?
The 1,200–1,300 figure comes from Bharathi, a fisherman quoted by India Today, who said families from Mullikuppam and Mullimanagar would be directly affected. Other reports carry different estimates. Dinakaran cited around 1,000 fishing families, while some political statements have claimed more than 1,500.
The safest reading is that 1,200–1,300 families could be affected according to local representatives, but there is no final government-backed count. The DPR, land survey, access plan and any rehabilitation or traffic arrangements will determine the actual scale.
Concerns now extend beyond displacement. Residents and opposition leaders have questioned existing congestion on Santhome High Road, Greenways Road and the Loop Road, along with coastal vulnerability. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has proposed a larger administrative city outside Chennai instead.
What Happens Next For The New Secretariat Plan?
The immediate date to watch is September 15, when fishing-community organisations are expected to meet at Srinivasapuram. Representatives have said further protests could be planned if the government does not reconsider the location.
Meanwhile, planning will continue through the DPR, architectural consultancy and design committees. Until those documents are completed, questions around exact building placement, road access, security boundaries and possible relocation remain unresolved.
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FAQs
Is the Pattinapakkam Secretariat project final?
No. The government has approved it in principle, while the DPR and designs remain pending.
How much will the proposed Secretariat cost?
Officials estimate the proposed Assembly and Secretariat complex will cost roughly twelve hundred crore rupees.
How many families could be affected?
A local fisherman estimates twelve hundred to thirteen hundred families, with no official count published.
Why are fishermen worried about the project?
They fear restricted coastal access, heavier traffic, security controls and disruption to fishing-based livelihoods locally.
When will fishing communities decide their next move?
Community organisations are expected to meet at Srinivasapuram on September 15 and discuss protests there.
