DMK Government's Plan for Heritage Building at King's Barracks Fell Through

The previous DMK government, led by M.K. Stalin, explored the possibility of constructing a multi-storeyed heritage building in place of King's Barracks, the crumbling structure behind Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai in Fort St. George. The plan, however, did not secure the approval of defence authorities, who retain control over the building.

A senior official explained that the proposal stemmed from a shortage of space in the fort's main block and in the ten-storeyed Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai. The idea was to raise a horizontal building that would respect the heritage character of the premises. The defence establishment's refusal brought the effort to a halt.

The condition of King's Barracks has been attributed to differences between the Army and the Archaeological Survey of India. The ASI regards the entire fort as a protected monument under its control, with the State government and the Army functioning only as occupants. In 2014, the ASI announced it would renovate the structure, said to be the largest of its kind in the country, but little was heard of the plan thereafter.

Built in 1756 and extended in 1762, the barracks housed a royal regiment from the outset and served British battalions for roughly two centuries.

Beyond defence concerns, another official pointed to a legal bar on construction within 300 metres of an archaeological structure or national monument. Repairs to Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai require permission from the National Monuments Authority. Because of this restriction, the AIADMK government under Jayalalithaa could erect only an arch near the War Memorial to mark the diamond jubilee of the State Assembly.

After the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital opened in Guindy in June 2023, sections of the DMK regime were reportedly keen to return to the Omandurar Government Estate, where the Secretariat-Assembly complex had functioned for a year during 2010-11 under Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The idea was shelved due to a lack of consensus among political leaders and civil servants.

Another proposal that drew the attention of policymakers involved building a horizontal, multi-storeyed structure on the Marina after demolishing the Ezhilagam building and two nearby structures, including one housing the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board. The suggested design would have taken into account the heritage character of the adjacent Water Resources Department office.

An official responded that the site is inadequate to house all State government offices, as the aim is to accommodate them in one place. Ezhilagam alone contains about 25 offices. The official questioned the logic of demolishing buildings when empty land is available, justifying the selection of Foreshore Estate as the site for the Secretariat-Assembly complex.