Sunday, May 15, 2011

Omandurar thottam aka Government House

Many people don’t know what this is about and where it is located in Chennai...

It was a home for a "Marathadi" Vinayagar, hundreds of trees, peaceful government offices, old mess, Rajaji Hall at the other end. Public can sneak through to have a pleasant silence in the hot spot of the city. Sometimes with police mercy, we can get a chance to play cricket. Vinayagar Chathurthi is always famous because of the Arasa maram Suyambu Vinayagar and for kids, the free sugar as prasatham.

Of so many locations, why this place has to be chosen as the New Secretariat? Now, the new secretariat looks green but just the lush green lawn and no more trees. It's not the same old place. I know things have to change, old has to give way to new but I don't see a logical reason to have the new Secretariat here.

First reason, it's in the heart of the business center in Anna Salai...surrounded by Pudupet, Ritchie Street, wholesale market, MAC Stadium, near University of Madras, busy Triplicane High Road and Pycrofts road. And everyone knows about the roads of the Triplicane which leads to this new Secretariage from all directions. As the decision was made, they was a rumors that all the mansions will be closed because of Security reasons, the roads will be extended to 30 feet demolishing the existing shops and homes and the notice severed to few shopkeepers already.

So, every time the Ministers come to this place, Anna Salai will be stalled for a while, lucky it didn't happen yet. If this is just because of sentimental beliefs, makes fool of the party started against the same beliefs. Alright this building is also "Green certified" because of the trees surrounding the complex. Our Prime Minister did his part by planting 1000 saplings of evergreen species (not trees) during inauguration day with an artificial multi-Crore fake dome.

With the new government already planned to use the Fort George as the Legislative assembly, we have to wait and watch what happens to this Rs 450 Crores project

-Naren

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