“SRI CITY: Aspiring To Become India's First Carbon-neutral Manufacturing Hub"

RAVINDRA SANNAREDDY, Founder Managing Director of Sri City talks about Sri City, its inception, its contribution and the road ahead

- Tarannum Manjul

What inspired you to establish Sri City, and how has the vision evolved since its inception?

In the early 2000s, while residing in the United States, I recognised that India’s economic potential was hindered by its inadequate infrastructure, despite the country’s many advantages. This realisation led me to conceptualise ‘Sri City’ as a solution to attract foreign investment, particularly in manufacturing.

Drawing inspiration from successful industrial zones in China and Singapore, I envisioned an integrated urban centre offering world-class infrastructure and a high quality of life. The goal was to create a self-contained environment where people could work, live, learn, and enjoy leisure activities.

The Indian government’s Special Economic Zone Act of 2005 provided a favourable regulatory framework. However, my ambition extended beyond creating just an SEZ; I aimed to develop a complementary city to Chennai, similar to Hosur’s relationship with Bangalore.