TNHB Community Hall at Besant Nagar has been one of the major Landmark of the area. Located next to the Besant Nagar Bus terminus, the community hall has been easily accessible. This hall was established as a part of TNHB’s large scale neigbhourhood schemes under Madras Urban Development Plan -I( MUDP-I )  with proper zoning of residential areas, meeting the requirements of all the sections of society from HIG to EWS ( High Income group to Economically Weaker Section). It has been part of the residential area under the master plan to serve the local population of the neigbourhood including Besant Nagar, Sastri Nagar, Indira Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Kasturibai Nagar etc. 

South Madras Cultural Association (SMCA), a reputed socio-cultural organization for over 40 years, with registered office at Indira Nagar, Adyar, would have liked to continue with their festivities, Durga Puja and Kali Puja, at this Community Hall. They have been hosting their socio-cultural events, benevolent activities from their Trust and religious festivals, at the same venue, for 40 years. SMCA is well known for it's grand Durga Puja celebration (the largest in Chennai), where people from all communities and different walks of life, not only from nearby areas in Adyar, but also from far off places, come together to be part of the festivities. This has been possible only because of the spacious, centrally located TNHB Community Hall at Besant Nagar, and so, it is all the more relevant for SMCA, that they continue having this privilege.

Besides private functions, many meetings with the different government departments have been held to sort out local civic issues. The latest event, the “Swap Fest”, that was held on January 12-13, 2020, made headlines of many dailies. This was conducted jointly by the Residential associations and Greater Chennai Corporation. Many officials visited the site and was surprised to see this hall with a large parking space and the proximity to the bus terminus, which made it viable for any event and allowed people across the city to attend. It was discussed with few officials that this community hall needed to be renovated with more advanced facility, and they all agreed to it. 

TNHB Community Hall at Besant Nagar was demolished recently,  and we all were under the impression that it would be reconstructed with modern infrastructure. When a Tamil newspaper recently published that TNHB is planning to construct a multi storied commercial complex at that site instead of our desired Community Hall, we residents have been shocked. How can TNHB usurp the privilege of the residents without their knowledge?  Community hall is an entitlement of the public in general and the residents in particular. Conversion of community hall to a commercial complex is not at all acceptable.  We strongly object such conversion without public consultation. There is no information board at the construction site, as well. We have already appealed to our MLA and had conversation with him regarding this matter, prompting him to take up this issue with the concerned Minister. This has resulted to the construction work being stopped, for the time being, at the site. While we await the final outcome of the meeting with Minister, we need to show our solidarity in the following resolution :

We want Tamil Nadu Housing Board Community Hall at Besant Nagar to stay, and not converted to a commercial complex.