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A 5-day Sustainable Urbanisation Planning workshop is being organised by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the European Union (EU) under the India - EU Urban Partnership on Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation. The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world's second largest economy and the third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 19 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment.

Shri Anshul Mishra IAS, Member Secretary, and Ms. M. Lakshmi, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority were present in the inauguration ceremony of the workshop held on 1st August 2022 in Hotel Ramada Egmore, Chennai. Ms. D Thara, IAS, Additional Secretary (A, L&E), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, and Ms. Kamilla Kristensen Rai, Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union joined the program virtually. 

With a focus on Metropolitan planning, the intensive workshop will provide inputs to support sustainable and resilient urbanisation of Chennai. The workshop, led by renowned European Urban Planner Mr. Pedro Ortiz, will be held till 5th August 2022. The aim of the Sustainable Urbanisation Planning workshop will be to co-create with all participants, a list of bankable projects and recommendations that will align with and support the implementation of CMDA’s Regional Plan. These projects and recommendations will cut across sectors such as housing, transportation, environment, economic activities and social facilities. The projects will be multifaceted, and their sectoral integration will be a key agenda for discussion. Hence, concrete outcomes from the workshop will support sustainable and resilient development of Chennai Metropolitan Area.

Twenty-Five participants representing key stakeholders are attending the 5-day workshop. Participants include representatives from Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Directorate of Town & Country Planning, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB), Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Highways Dept., Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Chennai Traffic Police, Department of Environment and Forests and Southern Railways.

The Chennai Metropolitan Area, due to its strategic location, economic significance and vulnerability to climate issues has been identified as one of the six metropolises for the workshop. It is imperative that Chennai adopts a forward-looking mindset to ensure a smart, resilient, and sustainable growth trajectory.