Tamil Nadu’s state assembly on Thursday passed a bill that will allow the construction of a new church in the state’s capital, Manikottai, for the first time in 20 years.

The measure, approved by a total of 12 members, will allow construction of the Church of St. Patricks in the area of Manikot, about 15 kilometres from the state capital, Tirupati, the state assembly said.

The assembly said the new church will be built on land leased by the State Government, which is responsible for the state finances.

The Assembly on Wednesday passed a measure to grant the state government land to construct the new Church of Saints in the Tirupatnam district, which has a population of about 12,000.

The government had earlier granted land to the state for the Church and St. Patrick’s National Shrine in Tirupathi, the area where the new new church is to be built.

In its bid to get the Church to open up, the Assembly had in June 2013 cleared a petition to construct a new cathedral in the city of Tirupatis.

However, it was later cancelled after the State government said it would not allow the project.

The State Assembly passed the bill on Thursday to allow construction in the new site.

“The proposal of building a new Church in Tirumala has been approved by the assembly, which will be the first such church in Tamilnia,” said the state cabinet in a statement.