Former MLA moves Madras High Court against TN government's decision to construct new Legislative Assembly building

Former Mylapore MLA and DMK leader Dha Velu has moved the Madras High Court challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision to construct a new Legislative Assembly and Secretariat complex at Foreshore Estate in Chennai's Pattinapakkam..Velu has sought quashing of a September 8 Government Order granting in-principle approval for the proposed complex. He has also urged the Court to grant an interim stay on further proceedings pursuant to the September 8 order, until the High Court decides the matter. The proposed complex is to come up on about 25.55 acres with a built-up area of nearly 20 lakh square feet. Chief Minister Vijay had announced the project in the Legislative Assembly on September 3 at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore, according to the petition.The government has since clarified that the Pattinapakkam site has not received final approval. Minister Aadhav Arjuna said on September 20 that only a Government Order had been issued so far and that a final decision would be taken by Chief Minister Vijay after a Detailed Project Report examines the feasibility of the proposal..The plea before the High Court argues that the State decided upon the site and announced the project cost even before preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR), estimates or architectural designs.Velu has contended that the September 8 Government Order does not refer to any traffic impact study, environmental assessment, social impact study or exercise comparing alternative locations. It also does not record any opinion or clearance from authorities, including the Environment Department, Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority, Fisheries Department, Chennai Traffic Police or Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.A substantial part of the challenge concerns the likely traffic impact of the proposed new Secretariat's construction on Marina Loop Road, which connects the Lighthouse area with Foreshore Estate and passes through several fishing hamlets.The petition points out that the High Court had itself intervened over congestion on the road in 2023 and directed the regulation of fish stalls and parked vehicles. The Greater Chennai Corporation subsequently constructed a ₹14.93 crore fish market with 360 shops to ease congestion, it adds..The petition also claims that nearly 20,000 students attending schools in the vicinity could be affected by additional traffic, official convoys and security restrictions. It further raises concerns over ambulance access to hospitals and health centres in the locality.Another major ground concerns the livelihood of fishing communities. The plea says nine fishing villages lie along the Loop Road and that more than 1,500 fishing families depend upon uninterrupted access to the beach for launching and parking boats, repairing nets and selling fish.Velu has alleged that neither the fishing community nor residents were consulted before the site was selected.The petition further raises environmental objections, claiming that the site lies within 500 metres of the High Tide Line and that adjoining beaches at Nochikuppam, Pattinapakkam and Srinivasapuram are Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds..The petition has been filed through advocates M Sneha, MA Vimal Mohan, V Dinesh Raja and NS Sri Hari.