The Kamarajar Grand Library and Intellectual Centre under construction at Mannarpuram in Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY
The pace of construction of the Kamarajar Grand Library and Intellectual Centre at Mannarpuram in Tiruchi has slowdown in recent months, raising concerns over its timely completion despite earlier expectations of finishing ahead of schedule.The ₹290-crore project, being executed by the Public Works Department (PWD), commenced in April 2025 and is officially scheduled for completion by September 2026. Initially, officials had expressed confidence that the library could be ready by February. However, the pace of work declined in recent months, particularly following the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.Although more than a month has passed since the restrictions were lifted, pace of construction remains sluggish. With only a few months left for the deadline, completing the project on time is expected to be challenging.The PWD officials said the slowdown was largely due to a shortage of workers during the election period. A senior official said the workforce had now been increased and efforts were on to expedite civil work, roofing, and interior design activities simultaneously to bring the project back on schedule.Built at a cost of ₹290 crore, including ₹50 crore allocated for e-books and ₹5 crore for equipment, the facility is envisioned as an integrated library, knowledge hub, and intellectual resource centre catering to students, researchers, and the general public.Spread across 1.97 lakh sq. ft., the seven-storey complex will feature a 1,000-seat auditorium, science centre, children’s theatre, children’s library, research centre, digital library, robotics and gaming zone, knowledge centre, artificial intelligence research centre, digital studio, conference hall, and videoconferencing facilities.The library will house Tamil and English literary archives, rare manuscripts, dedicated facilities for persons with disabilities, and training and mentorship programmes for competitive examination aspirants.Designed as a fully air-conditioned modern facility, the building will include escalators, nine elevators, including two glass lifts, and parking spaces for 100 cars and 150 two-wheelers. Published - June 13, 2026 06:48 pm IST
