In the year 1946, the name of the institution was The Central Polytechnic, Madras and the institution was then conducting seven full-time diploma courses of three years duration each in (i) Civil Engineering (ii) Mechanical Engineering (iii) Electrical Engineering (iv) Sanitary Engineering (v) Printing Technology (vi) Cinematography and Sound Engineering (vii) Fisheries Technology and Navigation. The Printing Technology section was developed into a full-fledged Institution under the name of “Regional School of Printing, Madras” and separated from the Central Polytechnic during the academic year 1960-61.

In the beginning, Madras Trade School was in a rented building. In course of time, separate building for the Institution was constructed and the Institution moved to its own building at Broadway, in the year 1924. Till the academic year 1957-58 the Institution was functioning at Broadway, Madras.

Owing to the rapid expansion during the Second Five-Year Plan, the Institution had to be shifted in the year 1958-59 to Guindy, near the Industrial Estate, where new building was constructed at a cost of about Rs.14 Lakhs. But with further development of the Institution and expansion of its activities during the Third Five-Year Plan, the need for more spacious building and playgrounds etc., was felt, and only 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land was available at Guindy which could not permit additional buildings being put up.

Therefore, lands to the extent of 40 hectares were initially acquired in the present premises at Adyar, for construction of new buildings.

This further led to the acquisition of another 3221 hectare to accommodate other technical institutions such as the Institute of Leather Technology, Institute of Textile Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, and the Institute of Film Technology, various other buildings have also been built during the year 1960-64.

The Central Polytechnic College consists of the following buildings:

1. Central Polytechnic Main Building 2. Workshops 3. Nehru Auditorium 4. Hostels to accommodate 250 students

The well-known Tamil Cinema director Shankar is an alumnus.