TVK govt junks tender for training campus in Chennai

CHENNAI: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has cancelled the tender finalised by the previous DMK regime for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for a proposed 74-acre campus of the Tamil Nadu Institute of Urban Studies (TNIUS) in Mamallapuram, citing administrative reasons. 

The cancellation comes after the TVK government's reported decision to review tenders finalised during the last six months of the previous regime.

The proposed campus was planned to house training facilities, accommodation and research centres to strengthen the institute's capacity to train officials from urban local bodies across Tamil Nadu.

The TNIUS, currently functioning from Coimbatore, provides training to municipal corporation commissioners, municipal commissioners, town panchayat executive officers and town planning officials. Its areas of focus include urban planning, geographic information systems, solid waste management, safe street design and disaster management.

The previous government had proposed shifting the institute to a larger campus near Chennai, with funding reportedly earmarked through the 15th Finance Commission.

A fresh tender is expected to be floated to prepare a revised DPR, incorporating improved facilities and green-building features, said municipal administration sources.