Chennai: Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna told the Assembly that the Chief Minister’s Office is being shifted temporarily from the Secretariat at Fort St George to the Namakkal Kavignar Maligai, citing severe space constraints.
Responding to concerns raised during a debate, the minister said the current CM office measures only about 100 sq ft, while around 80 people work in close proximity. He claimed even basic amenities such as toilet facilities are inadequate for the staff working around the Chief Minister.
DMK whip E.V. Velu questioned the move and referred to an allocation of Rs 5.54 crore for setting up the office at the new location. He also flagged complaints from Secretariat employees about lack of dining space and other facilities, and alleged that an online tender was not issued as promised for transparency.
The minister said the tender for the work has not been finalised yet. He added that the shift is not for the Chief Minister’s personal comfort, but a temporary arrangement to improve facilities for those working with him, noting that the Chief Minister follows a fixed schedule at the Secretariat and receives officials, foreign diplomats and visitors.
