Stalin launches expansion work of Chennai Trade Centre

Chennai, Feb 26 (PTI) Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalintoday launched the Rs 250 crore expansion work of the ChennaiTrade Centre, a Centre-state initiative that hosts majorinternational events.

The expansion work will commence in July this year andwill be completed in March 2013, a government release said. Itincludes the construction of six air-conditioned exhibitionhalls, each on 66,000 sq ft., and a basement parking facilitythat will accommodate 2,000 cars and an equal number oftwo-wheelers.

The expansion work was taken up following an announcementmade by Stalin during his Industries grants last year, a stategovernment release here said. Among others, Stalin holds theIndustries portfolio.

Disaster management facility, library, food court andother facilities are also part of the expansion, the releaseadded.

M/S Taamaesek Engineering Consortium have been appointedconsultants for the expansion work.

A joint initiative of the Indian Trade PromotionOrganisation and the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion organisationwhich hold 51 and 49 percent stakes, respectively, the ChennaiTrade Centre was inaugurated in 2001.

Spread over 25.48 acres, it presently houses threeair-conditioned exhibition halls besides a conference hallwith a seating capacity of 2,000.

Among others, it had hosted the 2009 edition of PravasiBharati Divas, a Central government initiative aimed atNon Resident Indians that was inaugurated by Prime MinisterManmohan Singh.

In 2010, 84 exhibitions were held as against a solitaryshow in 2001, the release added.