(From left) MV Manikandan, Founder and CMD, Adissia Developers; LV Navaneeth, CEO, The Hindu Group; B. Rajkumar, TN Minister for Housing and Urban Development; Arun MN, Managing Director, Casagrand; Sundar Kondur, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Ltd, at the inaugural session of The Hindu Real Estate & Urban Infrastructure Summit 2026, in Chennai
| Photo Credit:
Bijoy Ghosh
Even as Casagrand expands across India and overseas, Chennai will continue to be the company’s backbone, founder and managing director MN Arun said on Thursday, underscoring the city’s central role in the real estate developer’s growth strategy.Speaking at The Hindu Real Estate & Urban Infrastructure Summit 2026, Arun stated that Casagrand’s ambition to scale from over ₹10,000 crore in annual sales to ₹25,000 crore and beyond would be built on the same principles that have shaped the company since its inception in Chennai in 2003.“Chennai is a great support system for us. It is the backbone for all of us,” he said during a fireside chat with The Hindu CEO, LV Navaneeth. While expansion into cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Delhi, and Mumbai is necessary for growth, the company’s foundation remains firmly rooted in the Tamil Nadu capital, he added.Arun said high-rise developments and integrated townships would increasingly shape Chennai’s urban future as the city accommodates a growing population. Large residential communities, he noted, offer opportunities for social interaction through parks, open spaces, clubhouses and community events, helping residents build stronger neighbourhood connections.He said homebuyers in Chennai have evolved significantly over the past decade and are now far more informed and value-conscious. Buyers today evaluate projects not only on location and pricing but also on amenities, specifications, maintenance costs, resale prospects and overall quality of life.Arun also stressed that infrastructure creation should be a shared responsibility between governments and private developers. He said Casagrand has invested in roads, water treatment facilities, sewage systems and other civic infrastructure within several of its large projects, particularly in suburban areas where public infrastructure is still developing.On regional market dynamics, Arun said buyer psychology differs widely across India’s major housing markets.Chennai buyers tend to be cautious and end-user driven, placing emphasis on legal approvals, construction quality and developer credibility. Urban VisionAddressing the summit, Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar said a State’s progress cannot be measured by buildings alone. Sustainable growth, he said, depends on factors such as water availability, roads, public transport and overall public welfare.Tamil Nadu is among the country’s fastest-growing economies, driven by strong manufacturing growth and rising investments, which in turn boost demand for housing, industrial parks and urban infrastructure, he said.“Real estate is an important sector. If it grows, the State’s economy grows,” the Minister said.Published on July 30, 2026
