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University of Madras Races to Renovate Aging Oriental Research Institute
28 Oct
Summary
- 90-year-old red brick building with safety concerns
- 9 departments and over 150 students/scholars to be relocated
- ₹19 crore sanctioned for renovation, must start by November
On October 28, 2025, the University of Madras has directed all departments functioning in the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) building on the Marina campus to vacate the premises by October 31 to facilitate an urgent renovation project.
The 90-year-old red brick building with stone pillars has been deemed unsafe due to structural concerns. The steel columns within the brick structure have corroded, weakening the building's stability. Additionally, some of the stone pillars on the facade have developed cracks, raising safety risks for passersby. To mitigate the danger, the university has erected temporary fences to prevent people from walking under the building's sunshades.
The state government has sanctioned ₹19 crore for the renovation of the ORI building under a special projects initiative. However, the university administration must commence the renovation work by November, or the allocated funds may be reverted to the government. As a result, the nine departments currently operating out of the building, including Tamil language, Sanskrit, and Islamic studies, have been ordered to vacate the premises.
