He floated the idea of constructing an assembly complex in front of Marina beach and even moving to Tiruchirappalli during severe water scarcity in Chennai city.

[3] In May 2007, when the Assembly organised celebrations to mark the completion of 50 years of association of the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with the legislature, the idea of constructing the Assembly-Secretariat complex was mooted.

The building, constructed as a legislative assembly complex, was inaugurated on 13 March 2010 by the then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.

[7][8] On 19 August 2011, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced in the state legislative assembly that the A-Block in new Secretariat complex, built by the previous DMK regime, would be converted into a multi-super specialty hospital and B-Block would be constructed as a government medical college.

[9] Work to convert the building to a multi-speciality hospital began in February 2013 following National Green Tribunal's approval.

[10] The six-storied hospital was inaugurated on 21 February 2014, with four medical departments, namely, cardiology, neurology, medical oncology and nephrology and five surgical departments, namely, cardiothoracic, neuro, hand and reconstructive micro surgery, vascular and surgical oncology, in addition to a lifestyle clinic for yoga and naturopathy.

[5] The complex is designed by German-based architect company GMP, a united venture of Meinhard von Gerkan and Volkwin Marg based at Berlin.

[10] Other facilities would include two cath labs with diagnostic imaging equipment separately for the heart and brain,[15] an emergency room near the entrance to the building, Wifi connectivity, mobile phone signal boosters, battery cars on every floor and in the compound and 150 surveillance cameras.

[10] The intensive care units have seventy electro-hydraulically operated imported beds with digital touch screens.

[11] Following the coronavirus pandemic in Tamil Nadu, the government upgraded the hospital as an exclusive block with 500 beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

[16] The building was constructed very fast in order to facilitate its opening in year 2010 which received criticism from opposition politicians.

Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), one of the luminaries of the national movement during the pre-Gandhi era, was made to operate it when he was imprisoned at the Coimbatore central jail.

Thirty-six years ago, the oil expeller was found buried in Coimbatore and brought to Chennai for display on the estate.

[1] The hospital is located at the western end of the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai, abutting the MRTS elevated railway line.