Chief minister lays foundation for ECR convention centre
Chennai: Chief minister
M K Stalin
laid the foundation for Kalaignar International Convention Centre at Muttukadu along East Coast Road on Thursday. The 525 crore, 38-acre project will feature a 10,000-seat exhibition hall, a 5,000-seat convention centre, and a 1,500-seat auditorium across a built-up area of 5.12 lakhsqft.
Equipped with modern amenities including central air-conditioning, elevators, EV charging stations, and parking for more than 1,600 cars and 1,700 two-wheelers, the centre is designed to host international summits, trade expos, concerts, and cultural festivals. Now, Chennai's major events are held at YMCA grounds or college campuses, often causing traffic snarls and logistical challenges. Expos occur at the Chennai Trade Centre, where traffic is a major issue.
The Muttukadu centre, located just outside city limits, is expected to provide a spacious and efficient alternative, improving traffic flow and reducing disruption in residential areas, said an PWD official said.
Stalin also inaugurated key infrastructure projects totalling 499.08 crore. These include the four-laning ofMalliyakarai-Rasipuram-Tiruchengode-Erode road in Namakkal, a new flyover in Madurai, and housing units for Irular families in Ranipet.
The 424.38 crore road upgrade, part of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor with Asian Development Bank funding, will ease traffic in Pallipalayam and boost connectivity between Namakkal and Erode.
In Madurai's Palanganatham, Stalin opened a 730-metre road overbridge built at 68.38 crore to replace a congested railway crossing. In Melpakkam, Ranipet, Stalin inaugurated 6.32 crore-worth resettlement housing for 41 displaced Irular families, complete with basic amenities like an anganwadi, water tank, and community hall.
He inaugurated 49 urban administration and water supply projects worth 571.92 crore across Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. These included new school buildings, playgrounds, sanitation facilities, underground drainage systems, bridges, market complexes, coastal beautification works, and housing units.
Key projects include three major underground drainage schemes in Chennai's Pallikaranai, Mughalivakkam, and Madipakkam areas worth 188.55 crore, a new 21 crore bridge in Perungudi, and road and community improvements in multiple municipalities. Stalin also launched 50 new municipal vehicles, including water sprinklers, hydraulic machines, sanitation vehicles, and school buses, enhancing civic services.
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