Mudhalvar Padaippagam offers budget-friendly work and study spaces in Tamil Nadu's Kolathur

Chennai: Tucked away in the by-lanes of Kolathur, the constituency of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, stands a swanky three-storied white building that has become the latest buzz in the locality.

Probably the first government-run co-working space in the country, Mudhalvar Padaippagam is a runaway success, with desk spaces being rented out for as low as Rs 50 for six hours, making it a haven for fledgling start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The ground floor houses the co-working space with 28 desks and three conference halls, each with a capacity of 14 people, offering facilities on par with private co-working spaces that charge anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 800 per day.

At Rs 50 for six hours, occupants get a desk with a high-speed Wi-Fi connection and can buy coffee at a subsidised rate of Rs 10 at the cafeteria on the second floor. The fully air-conditioned facility has a lobby where users of the co-working space can make calls and relax for a few minutes away from work.

With monthly packages also available, slots at both the co-working space and the learning centre are booked out at least until July. Bookings can only be made online.

On the first floor is a study centre that provides a calm and inspiring space for students, featuring a library with about 1,000 books. It caters to those preparing for competitive exams, charging Rs 5 per shift (three-and-a-half hours/

Run by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the co-working space and study centre are maintained by activist Helen Anita, who has been spearheading Stalin’s educational initiatives in the constituency since he was the Leader of Opposition between 2016 and 2021.

Buoyed by its success, the GCC plans to launch similar facilities in at least 10 localities in north Chennai alone. The state government is also considering opening Mudhalvar Padaippagam centres across Tamil Nadu, with a hybrid model becoming the order of the day.

Anita said they prefer small start-ups and women entrepreneurs, while dissuading large companies from making bulk bookings at the co-working space.

“Our focus is to provide a swanky space for people who cannot afford private spaces. We designed it primarily for working professionals from Kolathur, but we have people from across the city using the co-working space. The aim is not to generate money but to support entrepreneurs and students,” Anita added.

R J Mathan, who launched his own company, Mavdero Tech Services Limited, in 2022 after working with IT majors like Tech Mahindra and HCL, has been working out of Mudhalvar Padaippagam since its launch in November 2024.

“I worked from home for two years after launching my firm. It was very difficult, and I heard about Mudhalvar Padaippagam while searching for a space. I have been able to save costs on space as I pay just Rs 2,500 per month per head here,” Mathan told DH on a weekday before logging off.

“Moreover, this facility is like any other co-working space. It feels like an office, and it is very hard to get distracted here since everyone is glued to their screens,” Mathan added.

Making applications using generative artificial intelligence (AI), Mavdero has a strength of 20 people, of whom four, including Mathan, work from the facility, while the rest work remotely.

Thirty-three-year-old Rahul, son of an ex-serviceman from nearby Perambur, finds the learning centre very useful for his preparations to appear for the Railway Exam.

“I couldn’t concentrate on my studies at home, and libraries that provide comfort for aspirants like me are far away. But this place has changed everything, as I spent just Rs 20 to stay the whole day. Since everyone next to me is also engrossed in their books, my concentration has improved. I hope to clear my exams this June,” Rahul said.

Anita mentioned that the study centre is full of students preparing for NEET PG exams and other competitive exams. “We have a limited number of computers to help students take mock tests. We also allow them to use their own laptops and access the internet, which helps them with research,” she added.