Kalaignar Centenary Government Boarding, Vellore accommodation facility remains closed due to delay in fixing room rent

PS Collector Leela Alex inspects the Kalaignar Centenary government boarding and lodging facility at Perumugai village in Vellore. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

More than five months after its inauguration, the ₹45.91 crore Kalaignar Centenary government boarding and lodging facility for relatives of patients attending government hospitals, including the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital at Perumugai village in Vellore, remains closed due to delay in fixing the accommodation rent.

PS Collector Leela Alex, accompanied by PWDs and revenue officials, inspected the new facility on the Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) to finalize the paperwork for the functioning of the new facility, which remains unused since its inauguration in February 2026 by former Chief Minister MK Stalin. “Twice the district administration has given the state government the rent rates that could be fixed for rooms in a government establishment. The rates were based on the existing rent rates in the area. We are awaiting a nod on the revised rates,” S. Nagarajan, Assistant Engineer (AE), PWD (Vellore), told The Hindu.

At present, tourists and patients from surrounding districts and states pay exorbitant rates for poorly maintained rental rooms in cramped private residences and motels in Vellore Corporation. “The new government facility will provide better security to women and senior citizens who accompany patients. The facility, funded by taxpayers’ money, should be opened without further delay,” said tourist R. Santhosh.

The three-storey complex is spread over six acres of land and has 119 rooms with at least 250 beds for visitors. The new facility has 48 rooms with double accommodation. It has a spacious visitor hall, elevators, lifts, adequate washrooms and drinking water facilities. The entire lighting of the building is solar powered. Additional facilities such as a small park, CCTV cameras, car park and tarmac driveways have been provided.

Corporation officials said that about 250 private lodges are currently functioning in the city. Most of them are cramped and poorly lit with minimal equipment. These accommodations are also available at high rents.

Conversely, new government accommodation is readily available for the nearest multispecialty hospitals such as CMC and Pentland Government Multispecialty Hospital. The new facility will provide low-cost accommodation for patients from neighboring districts and states.

Published – 15 Jul 2026 23:45 IST