Chennai, Feb 19: Positioned at the intersection of sustainability and infrastructure-led growth, Chennai is charting its course to become India’s model coastal city resilient, future-ready and globally competitive. The first-ever Super Chennai Conclave 2026, held today, brought together some of Tamil Nadu’s most influential policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and urban visionaries to translate citizen-driven ideas into an actionable roadmap that strengthens infrastructure, safeguards the coastline, and drives inclusive urban transformation.

The conclave commenced with an inaugural address by Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, I.A.S., – Additional Chief Secretary to Govt. of Tamil Nadu; Chairman & Managing director – TANGEDCO; Chairman – TNPGCL., who set the tone for the day by emphasising the importance of collaborative governance and citizen participation in building resilient, future-ready cities.

Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, I.A.S.- Additional Chief Secretary to Govt. of Tamil Nadu; Chairman & Managing director – TANGEDCO; Chairman – TNPGCL., said, 

“Chennai’s history has always worked in its favour. Built layer by layer, ours is a city rich in culture, enterprise, resilience and an extraordinary talent pool that powers Tamil Nadu’s growth. I envision Chennai emerging as a fully integrated, climate-resilient coastal city supported by reliable, future-ready infrastructure. Sustainability must guide how we design transport, strengthen public health and create economic opportunity. Chennai must lead not by comparison, but by competing confidently on the global stage. That requires alignment between government, private enterprise and citizens. When we move together, collective aspiration becomes measurable progress — and that is how we build a benchmark coastal capital for the future.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ranjeeth Rathod, Managing Director, Super Chennai, said,

“The conclave represents the transition from consultation to implementation. Over the past several months, we have engaged with citizens and domain experts to shape a framework that reflects shared priorities for the city’s growth. The discussions here reaffirmed the alignment between policy leadership and industry stakeholders. The focus now is on structured follow-through so that the recommendations translate into measurable progress for Chennai.”

Hosted by Super Chennai, a transformative citizen-led initiative, the conclave marked a significant step in translating public participation into actionable outcomes. Designed as a collaborative platform, the event focused on crafting a bold, practical and future-ready roadmap for the city.

The conclave was graced by Dr. T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, whose presence underscored the importance of public-private collaboration in driving Chennai’s long-term growth and global positioning.

The event saw powerful participation from leaders across sectors, including Mr. Arun Vasu, Managing Director, TT Group; Ms. Ashwini Asokan, Founder & CEO, Vue.ai (Mad Street Den Inc.); Mr. Hari Ganapathy, Co-Founder, Pickyourtrail; Mr. Mohamed Ali, President, CREDAI Chennai; Mr. Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Co-Founder & Partner, Catalincs Partners; Mr. Raj Cherubal, Executive Director, Chennai Smart City Limited; Mr. Sandeep Nanduri, I.A.S., Managing Director, TIDCO; Dr. Soundarya Rajesh, Managing Director, Avtar Group; Mr. Sivarajah Ramanathan, Mission Director & CEO, Startup TN; Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels; and Mr. Vishesh Rajaram, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Speciale Invest, reflecting a strong cross-section of industry, policy, entrepreneurship, and urban leadership.

Throughout the day, discussions centered on key pillars critical to Chennai’s transformation — investment and industry growth, urban infrastructure, tourism, technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and inclusive development. The conclave witnessed the participation of over 200 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic stakeholders, reflecting strong cross-sector commitment to shaping the city’s future.

What set the conclave apart was its citizen-first approach, with insights from the broader Super Chennai public participation movement consolidated into key focus areas that guided the day’s discussions. With strong cross-sector representation and actionable intent, the Super Chennai Conclave 2026 has set the tone for sustained collaboration reinforcing that Chennai’s future will be shaped not just by policy or industry alone, but through collective civic vision.

Marking the next step in the evolution of the Super Chennai Manifesto, the initiative now moves toward focused workshops and collaborative working groups aimed at translating dialogue into measurable outcomes and actionable implementation pathways for the city.