₹1,200-Cr Secretariat, Olympic City, Formula 1 track: Vijay announces Chennai makeover plan
Tamil Nadu CM C Vijay Joseph announced plans to establish a world-class Olympic City and a dedicated motorsports city in Chennai. The projects will feature advanced training facilities and aim to help athletes win more medals and promote motorsports.
In a move that is likely to please sports lovers in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph on Thursday announced his government's plan to establish a world-class Olympic City in Chennai, along with a dedicated motorsports city in the capital to host Formula 1 races.
Tamil Nadu to get Olympic City: Here's what the CM said
He made the announcement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, ANI reported. The CM's office said the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority will oversee the development of the Olympic City, which is planned to include international-standard sports arenas, advanced sporting equipment, a High Performance Training Centre, and specialised Sports Science and Sports Medicine centres.
Vijay said the facility will also have modern infrastructure, including accommodation for athletes and coaches. The Olympic City is envisioned as an integrated sports hub, providing sportspersons with advanced training and support facilities aimed at helping athletes from the state win more medals at the Olympic Games and other international sporting events.
He further said, "World-class, Olympics standard infra and training structure with residential facilities will be built. This will help Chennai host international events and to churn out Olympians." Addressing the Assembly, he noted, "An Olympic city will be set up in Chennai. A motor sports city will also be set up in Chennai to host Formula 1 races. The talents of youth in motor sports will be identified, and training and racing opportunities will be provided to create national and international level champions."
CM Vijay also announced plans to establish a new integrated Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex in the capital for ₹1,200 crore, indicating that the government plans to shift from the historic Fort St George. He said the modern complex will house all state government departments and have a built-up area of 20 lakh sq ft.
CM Vijay to bring back Formula 1 racing?
Earlier in June this year, Tamil Nadu's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) set up a task force to oversee motor sports, with a vision of bringing back Formula 1 racing to the country by the end of 2028. Citing a source, ANI said, "We will try to bring back F1 in India by 2028. For this, we created a task force that monitors motor sports in the country and submits its report to the Ministry."
Earlier this year, Arindam Ghosh, President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), attended a meeting with the Union Sports Ministry in the national capital, where he said work was in progress to bring the motor racing event back to the country by 2030. He also said India could host a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) and MotoGP by 2028.
Later, at the FMSCI Annual Awards function, Ghosh said, "The meeting with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State Raksha Khadse, senior officials and potential stakeholders in New Delhi, focused primarily on bringing F1, MotoGP and a round of the WRC to India."
He added, "The Federation stressed the need to develop Indian drivers and the overall development of motorsports in India, and the FMSCI's inputs were well received."
(with agency inputs)
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
Wait for it…
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.