Olympic City (TNSD Authority) and Motor Sports City (F1–F4 circuit) announced. ₹1,200 crore new Secretariat (20 lakh sq ft). Tamil HC language resolution adopted unanimously — sixth of the 17th Assembly.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay made two landmark announcements in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday — a unanimous resolution demanding Tamil as the principal language of the Madras High Court, and a ₹1,200 crore plan to build a new integrated Assembly-Secretariat complex in Chennai covering 20 lakh square feet.
Under Rule 110, Vijay announced the establishment of a Tamil Nadu Olympic City in Chennai, to be developed by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority (TNSDA). The facility will be an integrated sports ecosystem built specifically to produce Olympic medallists and host international events.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority (TNSDA) |
| Sporting arenas | World-class, Olympic-standard sports arenas across multiple disciplines |
| Training | High Performance Training Centre with advanced equipment |
| Science & Medicine | Dedicated Sports Science and Sports Medicine centres |
| Residential | Accommodation for sportspersons and coaches within the campus |
| Goal | Help Tamil Nadu athletes win more medals at the Olympics and international competitions |
The Olympic City comes approximately one month after the TVK government allocated ₹1,051 crore to the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department (portfolio held by Minister Aadhav Arjuna). Unlike the previous DMK government's more traditional stadium-first approach, the TVK vision centres on the biological and technological aspects of performance — Sports Science and Medicine infrastructure as the anchor, with arenas built around training rather than events.
Vijay also announced a dedicated Motor Sports City in Chennai capable of hosting Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4 races — positioning Chennai as India's motor racing capital at a moment when India has renewed interest in bringing back a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Motor Sports City will serve as both an events venue and a talent-development hub. Vijay said young motorsport talent from Tamil Nadu would be identified and given structured pathways into professional racing. Chennai already has some racing infrastructure — the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit at Island Grounds (3.839 km, opened briefly in August 2024 for the Indian Racing League and F4 India) — but the proposed Motor Sports City represents a purpose-built permanent facility of a different scale.
The announcement connects to broader national momentum: the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) created a task force in June 2026 specifically monitoring motorsports with a view to bringing Formula 1 back to India.
Vijay moved a resolution in the Assembly urging the Central Government to recognise Tamil as the principal language of the Madras High Court — a longstanding demand of Tamil Nadu that successive governments have raised without success.
Moving the resolution, Vijay emphasised Tamil's antiquity and continuous literary and grammatical heritage. He noted that Tamil is spoken by approximately nine crore people worldwide and about eight crore people in India. He recalled that the Union government had recognised Tamil as a Classical Language on October 12, 2004. He also argued that technological advances — including AI-enabled translation tools — had created a more favourable environment for reconsidering the long-pending demand.
After a lengthy debate in which members across party lines participated, Speaker J. C. D. Prabhakar put the resolution to a voice vote. The House adopted it unanimously — marking the sixth unanimous resolution passed by the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly. The resolution now goes to the Union Government as a formal request from the Tamil Nadu Legislature.
Vijay also announced under Rule 110 that the Tamil Nadu government will construct a new integrated Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore, spread across 20 lakh square feet in Chennai. The complex will bring all state government departments under one campus, replacing the current fragmented arrangement across multiple buildings.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | ₹1,200 crore |
| Area | 20 lakh square feet |
| Purpose | Integrated Assembly, Secretariat and all government departments in one campus |
| Design intent | State-of-the-art, futuristic, modern — built to last 100 years |
| Existing problem | Fort St George (107 acres) — only a fraction available for TN govt; ASI and Defence control large portions; departments fragmented across multiple buildings |
| Current situation | CMO being shifted to 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maligai (₹11 crore) as an interim measure |
Fort St George, built by the East India Company in 1644, is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, which severely limits expansion or modification within the campus. Of the approximately 107 acres, only a fraction is available for state government administrative use — the Defence Ministry and ASI control significant portions. With daily footfall at the Secretariat having risen from 7,000 to 9,000 since Vijay took office, pressure on existing space has grown sharply.
The new complex will be the first purpose-built integrated government administrative complex in Tamil Nadu's history. Update (September 9): The government issued G.O.(Ms) No.61 formally approving Pattinapakkam (Foreshore Estate), Mylapore, Chennai as the location. Land area: 25.55 acres from Tamil Nadu Housing Board, Greater Chennai Corporation and Revenue Department.
Replying to the debate on demands for grants for the Home and Police Department, Vijay announced that 29,108 police personnel will be recruited over the next five years, of which 10,000 will be hired in 2026 alone — including 5,000 women police officers.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total 5-year recruitment | 29,108 posts |
| Recruitment in 2026 | 10,000 — including 5,000 women police |
| Women's representation — target | 30% (up from 22% currently) |
| Singappen Special Force | Elite all-women unit to prevent crimes against women and children — already formed |
| Anti-narcotics force | Separate dedicated force to combat narcotic substance prevalence — already operational |
The recruitment of 5,000 women police in a single year is the largest single-year addition to women's representation in Tamil Nadu Police history. The Singappen Special Task Force — an elite all-women police unit launched on June 9, 2026 — is part of the same drive to strengthen women and child safety infrastructure in the state.
Under the same announcement session, Vijay also announced:
| Scheme | Amount |
|---|---|
| Interest-free revolving fund for income-generating assets on Muslim and Christian properties (marriage halls, commercial complexes) | ₹100 crore |
| New headquarters for Tamil Nadu Waqf Board | ₹40 crore |
| Administrative grant for Tamil Nadu Waqf Board (raised) | ₹5 crore/year |
Olympic City Motor Sports City Tamil Language Assembly Resolution Secretariat Complex
Minister Nirmal Kumar confirmed on September 24 that the proposal to construct the new Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex at Pattinapakkam is “under review” and that the government is currently studying possible alternative locations within Chennai. The minister’s statement is the first formal, on-record ministerial acknowledgement that the Pattinapakkam selection is being reconsidered — going further than the earlier signals from Aadhav Arjuna and Rajmohan, which had stopped short of a formal review declaration.
Multiple sources reported on September 21 that the Tamil Nadu government had decided to move away from Pattinapakkam and was examining alternative locations along the East Coast Road for the proposed Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex. The reported rethink followed a high-level meeting chaired by CM Vijay after his return from London, at which the growing community resistance and political opposition were discussed. While sources were clear about the direction, no formal GO withdrawing the Pattinapakkam selection had been issued as of September 21 — further consultations are expected before a final call.
Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna, speaking at a booth agents’ meeting in Madurantakam on September 21, gave the clearest public signal yet: “If the choice is between the Secretariat and the livelihood of the fishing community, our Chief Minister will certainly stand by the fishermen.” He confirmed no decision had been taken and that the government was awaiting a Detailed Project Report before settling on a location.
The Pattinapakkam site selection triggered a significant community backlash. Around 1,000 fishermen and residents from more than 10 fishing hamlets in the Pattinapakkam area gathered at Marina Beach on September 15 to oppose the project and demand the withdrawal of GO No. 61. The protesters alleged they had not been consulted before the government selected the site and said the project would affect the traditional livelihoods of fishing communities. They noted that parts of the land had originally been designated for fishermen relocated in 1958 — a promise that remained unfulfilled.
A September 21 deadline was set: if the GO was not revoked by then, the community threatened a statewide protest. Key ally Congress expressed hope that CM Vijay would resolve the situation without harm to local communities. CPI-M state secretary P. Shanmugam criticised the GO as “hasty,” saying the Secretariat should not be built in haste. Multiple opposition parties — including DMK, AIADMK and allies — urged Vijay to abandon the Pattinapakkam site in favour of an alternative location. The government has yet to respond formally to the protest demands.
September 3, 2026