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Further modifications have been made to the Tamil Nadu Assembly complex design.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi reviewed the Assembly design drawings and a decision was taken to reduce the height of the Secretariat building adjoining the Assembly hall.

It was earlier proposed that the Secretariat building would be 20 floors in height but it has now been reduced to eight floors.

Hubert Nienhoff, architect and partner in gmp- von Gerkan, Marg und Partner Architects, Berlin, told The Hindu that the height was reduced for three reasons. The Assembly would now have only one iconic element: a dome modelled on a temple car. A 20-storied building near it would have competed with the importance of the dome. Secondly, it was felt that the tall tower would hide the dome and make it less visible from certain areas. The existing height restriction on buildings also does not permit a 20-storied building and it was decided to abide by the prevalent rules and reduce the height.

Mr. Neinhoff said the project is on track and as per schedule. Tender discussions are expected to commence by August-end and construction by October. The first phase of the Assembly complex would be completed by mid-2010.

A government official said there had been an encouraging response from a number of companies for the bids floated for the construction of the main block of the complex. Several companies evinced interest in participating in the project, as they considered it would be a matter of prestige and honour for them to be awarded with the contract, the official added.

PWD Minister Durai Murugan, who was present, told presspersons that the firm made a presentation on the ‘B’ block (the Secretariat complex) to the Chief Minister. It would have an area of about 6 lakh sq.ft. The ‘A’ block that houses the Assembly complex would have an area of 9 lakh sq.ft.

The designs were first presented to the Chief Minister in January. The original design had five circular courtyards with the main Assembly hall under a dome in the fourth courtyard. In June, it was revised and the Assembly hall was moved to the second courtyard. The fifth courtyard was dropped. The present modification is the second revision.