Chennai, Sept 5:
The Tamil Nadu government has awarded the contract for constructing a new Chief Minister’s Office at the Secretariat to a Chennai-based construction company that quoted 32 per cent below the estimated cost.
The government has decided to shift the Chief Minister’s Office from its existing location at Fort St George to the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai within the same Secretariat complex.
The move has been planned in view of space constraints at the existing office and with the aim of providing improved infrastructure for administrative work.
The Public Works Department had prepared plans for a dedicated office for the Chief Minister, along with a modern conference hall and other infrastructure and interior facilities.
The works were estimated at Rs 5.54 crore and tenders were invited in three packages.
A prominent Chennai-based construction company, Rasi Builders, emerged successful after quoting Rs 3.78 crore — around 32 per cent below the government’s estimated cost.
The work has already commenced, with the government setting a target of completing the project and bringing the new office into use within three months.
The new facility is expected to provide upgraded infrastructure and a dedicated working environment for the Chief Minister within the existing Secretariat campus.