Muthalvar Padaippagam, a co-working space, helps the budding businessmen cut cost

Karthik Mohan, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Coimbatore, has picked a seat at Muthalvar Padaippagam, a co-working space, for the next two months. Along with his mother, he runs a digital marketing company in Coimbatore. He is looking to expand the business to Chennai.

While awaiting the completion of a new office space at Ambattur, Karthik found Muthalvar Padaippagam an affordable solution as a seat here costs just ₹2,500 a month as against ₹6,500 or more charged by private co-working spaces.

Economical on rents

Like Mr. Karthik Mohan, several other aspiring entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu have utilised Muthalvar Padaippagam as a launch pad for their businesses. “This space is good for entrepreneurs who don’t have enough money to find a working space. This space has all the facilities that are available at the other co-working spaces. And internet too,” he said. 

There were several women entrepreneurs who were busy charting out plans to scale up their businesses. One of them said that utilising this centre would help her cut the cost by ₹60,000 a year.

On the first floor, Gowtham S., 24, was scanning books pertaining to the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB). “I want to join the police department. And I come here every day for three reasons: The first, it is affordable. The second, there are students who help me whenever I have doubts. And the third, there are plenty of books and magazines available here that I would otherwise have to buy,” he said. Several students preparing for NEET, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) exams, and bank exams are also utilising this space.

Mudhalvar Padaipaggam, launched in November 2024, comprises a co-working space that includes meeting rooms and learning centres. Those using the learning centres are charged ₹5 each a day. For the desk space, users are charged ₹50 each, while the meeting rooms come at a cost of ₹150.

Favourite of students

Since inception, around 40,646 students have utilised the learning centres which have earned ₹2.44 lakh in revenue. Data show that 2,287 users have booked desk space, which has generated ₹5.90 lakh, while the meeting rooms with 1,060 bookings have generated ₹1.80 lakh. The meeting rooms are occupied by an average of 4-6 people.

In the 2025-26 Budget, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said Muthalvar Padaippagam would be established at 30 locations in all corporations — including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Tambaram, and Avadi — at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore each.

Scouting for locations

“We will be coming up with such centres at eight more locations in the city,” Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran said.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is studying the locations and working on the design and construction parts of this project. In the next six months, some of these centres would go live.

Experts in the co-working space are all praise for the government initiative, but they want these centres to be established at the right location. It would be ideal to establish these centres near information technology corridors and zones accessible to college students. Those who have used Muthalvar Padaippagam also suggest that the government market these co-working spaces well.

Published - June 01, 2025 10:36 pm IST