Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Lays Foundation Stone for Rs. 290 Crore Grand Library and Knowledge Hub in Tiruchirappalli

Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today (March 21, 2025), through a virtual ceremony from the Secretariat, laid the foundation stone for a world-class “Kalaignar Library and Knowledge Hub” in Tiruchirappalli, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 290 crore under the Department of School Education.

Situated on the banks of the Cauvery River, this library will be among the world’s most advanced and will serve as a knowledge repository in Tamil Nadu’s cultural heartland. On June 27, 2024, the Chief Minister had announced in the State Assembly under Rule 110 that this facility would be built in Tiruchirappalli.

Covering an area of 1,97,337 square feet, the library complex will feature a seven-story structure, with Rs. 235 crore allocated for the building, Rs. 50 crore for books and e-books, and Rs. 5 crore for technological infrastructure. The library will offer top-notch facilities, enhancing access to knowledge and research.

Facilities at the Kalaignar Library and Knowledge Hub:

• Ground Floor: Reception, information and registration counters, book lending section, special reading areas, periodical and newspaper sections, librarian and staff offices, dedicated spaces for differently-abled individuals, and a 1,000-seat auditorium.
• First Floor: Science center, reading areas, event halls, children’s reading and activity spaces.
• Second Floor: Exclusive research hub, training rooms, and a discussion hall.
• Third Floor: Tamil literature archive, Tamil book section, and membership service area.
• Fourth Floor: Robotics and gaming section, digital and English book membership area.
• Fifth Floor: Knowledge hub, advanced research center, and English literature archive.
• Sixth Floor: Book preservation section, rare books archive, digitization studio, conference rooms.
• Seventh Floor: Video conferencing and virtual meeting facilities.

The library will also feature advanced infrastructure, including 2,000 reading spaces, 7 elevators, fire safety systems, centralized air-conditioning, solar power integration, and backup power. It will house a vast collection of books spanning Tamil literature, ancient and modern works, encyclopedias, translated texts, rare manuscripts, law, medicine, science, and arts.

Dignitaries present at the virtual event included Ministers K.N. Nehru, E.V. Velu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, MLAs, senior government officials, and local representatives. Tiruchirappalli District Collector M. Pradeep Kumar and Tiruchirappalli Mayor M. Anbazhagan also participated.

Issued by: Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9.