Deputy Chief Minister, M K Stalin, on Saturday launched the Rs 250 crore expansion work of the Chennai Trade Centre, a Centre-state initiative that hosts major international events.
The expansion work will commence in July this year and will be completed in March 2013, a government release said. It includes the construction of six air conditioned exhibition halls, each on 66,000 sq ft., and a basement parking facility that will accommodate 2,000 cars and an equal number of two wheelers.
The expansion work was taken up following an announcement made by Stalin during his Industries grants last year, a state government release here said. Among others, Stalin holds the Industries portfolio.
Disaster management facility, library, food court and other facilities are also part of the expansion, the release added.
M/S Taamaesek Engineering Consortium have been appointed consultants for the expansion work.
A joint initiative of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion organisation which hold 51 and 49 per cent stakes, respectively, the Chennai Trade Centre was inaugurated in 2001.
Spread over 25.48 acres, it presently houses three air conditioned exhibition halls besides a conference hall with a seating capacity of 2,000.
Among others, it had hosted the 2009 edition of Pravasi Bharati Divas, a Central government initiative aimed at Non Resident Indians that was inaugurated by Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh.
In 2010, 84 exhibitions were held as against a solitary show in 2001, the release added.