Conservationists’ fight to protect ‘Perfect Unanimity’, the British-era building on the Marina 

Police General Manager (DGP) in Marina is called “excellent unanimity .. However, about 30 years ago, the government of AIADMK (all India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), and the first, became a source of incompatibility among a number of Chennai inhabitants, as it plans to destroy the inheritance structure and to raise a “10 -storey and elegant” complex to the police department. Thanks to the continuous efforts of a group of special protection experts, the authorities eventually dropped their plans and went to strengthen the Victorian building, which continued to serve as the center of the police department.

The part of the DGP Office Complex recovery campaign was recalled by many people, mourning the passage of the senior architect-Cororumacı Tara Murali in Chennai last week. With Chennai’s leading inhabitants, he had successfully fought to save the building from destruction.

Everything began in April 1993 during the response of the Prime Minister Jayalitha (as written) to the discussion in the Assembly, the demands of the home department began to build a new structure of the regime. At that time, he only made a short reference to the plan. Three months later, more details arrived when he visited his first Prime Minister DGP office after CN Annadurai, the founder and predecessor of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

A news report Hindu On July 28, 1993, the new complex of the “Police General Manager Office will be built here at a cost of approximately RS on the current site in Marina. [ ₹] 15 Crore will have all facilities and will be a turning point for the city. At the same time, care will be taken to ensure that the building is in harmony with the existing natural environment. “

A series of reports and articles published by this newspaper followed the origin of “Excellent Outdoor”. The city of Chennai, the masons of Madras, known officially in the 19th century and most of the 20th century, had the property. The Police Department initially received a lease agreement for seven years from 24 July 1865 with 90 monthly rent.

On June 11, 1874, the government acquired the building for 20,000 la and spent 10,000 more for additions and repairs. Changes and extensions were made to host the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) wing of the General Police Department established in 1909 in 1909. The main reason added to the new building by the authorities was the space restriction in the 19th century structure, given the growth of the police department. In 1979 in Tamil Nadu, the DGP mission was created to chair the department. [At present, as per the sanctioned executive strength of the department, there are 14 DGPs, 18 Additional DGPs, 44 IGs (Inspector General), 37 Deputy IGs and 173 Superintendents of Police, in addition to other ranks].

Opposition to the operation against the DGP Office Complex, former Union Minister C. Subramaniam, former DGPS K. Ravindran and VR lakshminarayanan, leading writer RK NARAYAN, veteran musician Semmangidi R.Srinivasa Iyer, Acce Tenis Tenis Tenis Tenis Tenis Player Ramanatnan Kamalı and Acce Tenis Plaque. Journalist writer S. Muthiah applied to the DPG S. Sripal at that time to withdraw the demolition offer. Citizen Consumer and Civil Action Group (CAG) representatives and Environmental Association also applied for appeals. Citizens, who explained in detail why the operation should be stopped, discussed the idea of transforming the building into a police historical museum if the building could not be used to comply with the department. Senior architect PT Krishnan said that it should not be difficult to renew the building without structural problems.

However, a month later, Jayalithaa said that a total of 3 Crore was allocated to the Assembly for the construction of a new DGP office complex in the marina. Meanwhile, competitive designs were invited from Archiects for the proposed building. In October 1994, the Prime Minister threw the cornerstones of the new complex. At that time, he did not touch on the controversy, but he said that his intention should be a “magnificent turning point” for the police headquarters that will decorate the sea front with the beauty that matches the sea front. In addition, he observed that “our emphasis should be a constructive correction rather than destructive denial”.

A positive result of the demolition operation was that the 18th century government building (the pension of the former MLAs) in the Omandur Government’s property was taken to temporarily host the police department. The DGP office also started to function from the government building. In mid -December 1994, Intach’s Tamil Nadu Regional Part (Indian National Art and Cultural Heritage Foundation) held a public meeting to request a law to enter into force to protect heritage buildings. At the meeting, Tara Murali made an objection that the movement identified an unwanted precedent to violate the existing building rules, pose a threat to other heritage buildings and threaten Marina, the only lung area in the city. At the meeting, a series of leading personality, including the Vice President of Anna University M. Anandakrishnan. The Supreme Court of Madras remained in the demolith operation after being moved by Intach. As the legal war continued, there was a regime change in May 1996 where the DMK returned to power. Three months later, then Prime Minister M. Karunidhi announced that the government’s government would not continue to decide to destroy the DGP office building of the previous regime. Two years later, he declared that he opened the renewed DGP building in Marina. Later, an annex was built.

In May 2001, Jayalithaa (when he added an additional ‘a’ in the name of an additional ‘a’ to that time, the government announced that a new building for the DGP office in the late 2003 will be built at a cost of 24 acres on the city complex in Taramani and that the existing building would be converted into a museum.

However, nothing has been heard about this offer. “Excellent Rent” still performs the task of providing accommodation to the police department. The campaign, which was initiated by protectionists, including Tara Murali about 30 years ago, made it possible.

Published – 30 July 2025 05:30 IST