In an event that is expected to benefit thousands of litigants, the Poonamallee combined court complex was opened by Madras high court chief justice M Y Eqbal on Monday, over a year after it was completed. The 125-year-old structure was demolished and rebuilt at a cost of Rs 4.3 crore.

"Everyday, about 200 cases related to petty offences and traffic violations come up here besides those related to remand, bail, surety and examination of witnesses," said Poonamallee Advocates Association president R Ramanidoss.

The three-storey building, near the bus terminus on Mount-Poonamalle High Road, has three large halls that can accommodate around 100 persons each. "The actual work began on May 25, 2009 after administrative sanction came in February 2008. It has all the facilities a modern court needs," said a Public Works Department (PWD) official.

Spread over 3,456 sq m, it has separate rooms for two munsif judges, a district magistrate and two criminal magistrate courts. There are separate chambers for judges, a property room to store seized items, separate rooms for copyist, clerks, a bank with ATM facility and a media centre with fax and internet. The complex is air-conditioned and has lifts. "Litigants from Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram will benefit. We will provide water supply and drainage connection soon," said Poonamallee municipality chairman T Manimegalai.

It also has separate waiting halls for men and women litigants. The old complex had no seating arrangements for litigants nor adequate space where they could wait. The halls were congested and poorly ventilated. There was no water tap or toilet and undertrials, in the absence of lock-up rooms, had to wait in the vehicle bringing them to court.

The new court has a few lock-up rooms and more than a dozen water taps and toilets. Adequate parking facilities are also provided. A separate three-storey accommodation for judges, spread over 232.88 sq m, has been built with separate parking facilities at a cost of Rs 29 lakh.