Founder Managing Director Speaks...

Some of the operational Projects

S
ri City, promoted by Sri City Pvt., Ltd., Chennai in 2006, has emerged as India’s one
of the best mega integrated business regions. Its steady growth in a short span stands
as a testimony to the dynamic leadership of Mr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder
Managing Director. His pioneering vision and rich experience in international business
enterprise, made Sri City as a striking example of new urbanism in the country, built on
the concept of ‘Work, Live, Learn and Play’. The world-class infrastructure, international
ambience and vibrant economic activity, propel Sri City as Asia’s top-league industrial,
residential, educational and recreational destination. Andrew Industries (UK) Bergen Pipes (UK) CCI / IMI (Europe)

Why was the present location in Satyavedu constituency
chosen for establishing Sri City?
For setting up the project, we wanted a location that had easy
access to rail, roads, airports and ports. After a survey we found
the present location that spreads across the Satyavedu and
Varadaiahpalem mandals in Chittoor district, which was notified
as a backward region by the state government. This region was so
backward that it was not having even an ITI or a degree college at
that time. As a son-of-the-soil, I was keen to build a new business
city and embarked on a mission of transforming the backward
area into a modern industrial economy. With the help of friends
and equity funds, we launched Sri City Private Limited in 2006,
with a conceptual design to accommodate 500 industries at a
total investment of over Rs.one lakh crores with a potential to
create more than1.5 lakh jobs in the region.
How did you estimate that Sri City will be a hit?
Sri City has the location advantage. Easy access to rail, highways,
airports and ports, proximity to Chennai City, availability of sup-
porting industries in Tamil Nadu and the industrial culture are the
plus points. We wanted this to be what Hosur is to Bangalore, and
anticipate it to become that to India, what Shenzhen is to China.
How smooth was the launch of Sri City?
The process of land acquisition was an interesting challenge and
the management was in favour of a consent-based settlement.
The formal ground-breaking was done on 8 August 2008. But
the journey was not easy though. 2009-10 period witnessed the
global meltdown (recession), besides the political unrest in the
state. However, we considered the slowdown as an opportunity to
develop infrastructure at the lowest cost and continued to invest
in infrastructure. Thus, when the economy improved, we could de-
liver our promises to the customers and helped them start produc-
tion within 8-10 months of sign-up. Today, Sri City has become a
‘must visit’ destination for the foreign and domestic investors and
international delegations and policy makers.
What features did you add to increase the value of Sri City
and to have a fair mix of industries?
Sri City evolved and adapted as it moved ahead. Though it was
started as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), targeting industrial
units for exports, we rewrote our strategies. Accordingly, Sri City
was developed as an integrated city comprising an SEZ and a
Domestic Tariff Zone (DTZ), eyeing opportunities in the domestic
market. Similarly, a contiguous Free Trade Ware housing Zone
2 15
(FTWZ) and an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) were also
developed. Today, Sri City emerged as a vibrant ‘Integrated Busi-
ness City’, equipped with world class infrastructure, offering ho-
listic solutions for multiple investment options & lifestyle. Over a
period it attracted several biggies in different sectors, like Alstom
(metro coaches), Isuzu (auto major), Colgate Palmolive (tooth-
brushes), Lavazza (coffee), Kellogg’s (cereals), Foxconn (cellular
Everton (Italy) Hunter Douglas (Netherlands) Kikuwa (Japan)
phones), besides PepsiCo and Mondelez (Cadbury) to name a
few. All these companies established a base here to target the
Indian market.
Thus, with the presence of a balanced mix of manufacturing in-
dustries in different sectors, with an active programme of impart-
ing vocational training and enhancing skills in different trades,
its EMC becoming a home for cellular and electronic production
units, and by creating large employment opportunities in the re-
gion, Sri City stands as a perfect example for our Hon’ble Prime West Pharma (USA) Nittan (Japan) Pals Plush (China)
Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative coupled
with other novel campaigns - Digital India, Startup India and Skill
India.
What are your future plans?
We are now focusing on creation of world-class social infrastruc-
ture, led by residential development in a ‘walk to work’ environ-
ment. The inclusive growth aspect of Sri City makes it a very spe-
cial integrated business city. As Sri City has been designed as a
Piolax (Japan) Premium Ingrediants (Spain) TIL Health Care (India)
‘work-live-learn-play’ destination, besides the industrial zones, we
will have residential areas, commercial hubs, world-class health-
care, educational establishments, recreation centres and all the
necessary amenities that support the industrial areas, making it
a truly integrated development for commercial enterprise and life
style. With about 12.5% of the area being green and with other
green energy initiatives, we are developing Sri City as a carbon
neutral city (Green City).
When the project is complete, Sri City will have around 500 manu-
Ventura (South Africa) Eura (Spain) ZTT (China)
facturing units, industries and companies from different nations.
Most people will live there, thus saving cost on commuting & time. Groundbreaking by forthcoming projects
The industrial zones and the residential areas will have varying
requirement of electric power and water supply resources. For
instance, to manage these precious resources efficiently, cost-
effectively and reliably, we will be adopting some of the smart
technologies, that have significant impact on improving the qual-
ity of human life and offer promising solutions to the growing chal-
lenges of urbanisation. In nutshell, we aim to develop Sri City as a
safe, secured and green city for a comfortable living.
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