CM Vijay opens Rs 300‑crore Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore, Stalin hails DMK brainchild

Periyar Arivulagam opened by CM Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Periyar Arivulagam and Science Centre in Coimbatore on Friday, 16 October 2026. The eight‑storey, seven‑acre complex houses a digital library, planetarium, interactive science zones and a modern auditorium. Vijay arrived from Chennai on a special flight, travelled 11.4 km to the Dr Nanjappa Road campus and cut the ribbon before a crowd of party workers and local residents.

Stalin frames the centre as a DMK achievement

Within hours of the ceremony, DMK president and former chief minister M K Stalin posted a video saying the centre was the "brain‑child of our Dravidian model government". In a written statement he added, "True pride lies in planning and creating something unique; that pride belongs to the DMK forever." Stalin reminded the public that he had laid the foundation stone on 6 November 2024, when the Public Works Department began construction under the DMK‑led administration.

Project details and scale

The knowledge hub cost roughly Rs 300 crore, split between Rs 245 crore for construction and Rs 50 crore for books and e‑books. It holds more than 1.25 lakh physical volumes, a comprehensive digital collection and specialised study halls for competitive‑exam aspirants. The facility also features a statue of social reformer E V Ramasamy (Periyar) and is designed to serve students from surrounding corporation schools.

Security and public enthusiasm

More than 3,500 police personnel were deployed across Coimbatore to manage traffic and ensure safety. Barricades were set up along Avinashi Road, Peelamedu and Gandhipuram, and a drone‑flight ban was enforced. Despite the tight security, locals lined the route to welcome the new centre, reflecting broad community interest.

Political significance

Stalin’s remarks positioned the Periyar Arivulagam as a tangible example of the Dravidian model’s focus on education and infrastructure, a narrative the party has long promoted. By allowing Vijay, the ruling party’s chief minister, to complete the project, the DMK underscores a continuity of governance that transcends electoral cycles, reinforcing the message of stable, long‑term development.

Looking ahead

The centre is slated to host seminars, cultural events and research programmes, expanding Coimbatore’s reputation as a knowledge hub in Tamil Nadu. The DMK plans to inaugurate several other library projects in the coming months, signalling a continued emphasis on public‑service infrastructure.