CHENNAI: “The tasks carried out inside are more important than the outer appearance of the edifice,” Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said on Wednesday. He was inaugurating a state-of-the-art annex building, constructed at a cost of Rs 24.50 crore at the police headquarters on Kamarajar Salai in Mylapore.
Housed in an area spread over 11.7 acres, the office of the Director-General of Police is a heritage structure and one of the best-known landmarks in the city. Since the existing building was found inadequate to accommodate the present strength, a proposal was made for construction of a new one at Taramani.
In his speech, the CM underlined the government’s efforts to maintain the police headquarters in the existing heritage structure. “As soon we came to power, we did not give room to the proposal for shifting of venue and took up the construction of an annexure to the heritage building,” he said.
On November 11, 2008, the government passed an order for construction of the new building comprising three blocks and built up area of 1.61 lakh sq ft at a cost of Rs 24.50 crore. The CM laid the foundation on July 30, 2008.
The new structure, constructed by Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation Limited, boasts of state-of-the-art facilities, including a conference hall, multi-purpose hall, dispensary and a fire protection system. It has an elevation that is fully in consonance with the existing structure.
“However, the tasks carried out inside are more important than the outer appearance of the edifice,” Karunanidhi said adding that the senior police officials were carrying out their duties well. “We will fulfil the needs of the State police in the future.”
Earlier, he inaugurated a new building of the Security Branch-CID at Marudam complex on B S Kumarasamy Raja Road. The building with a built-in area of 7,700 sq ft was constructed at a cost of `88.44 lakh.