My association with Chennai began in 2013 when I first came to the city after being assigned to the Tamil Nadu cadre. What began as a posting gradually became something more personal — the city became home, says Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran.

After spending 10 years across different field postings in the State, returning to Chennai and settling here felt like coming back to a familiar place.

Chennai’s greatest strength is, perhaps, its multicultural spirit — a city that has welcomed people from across the country, giving them not only opportunities, but also a sense of belonging and a place to build their lives. What I love most about Chennai is its ability to be modern while firmly holding onto its traditions and values. Above all, the hard work, warmth, and resilience of its people have touched me the most.

Chennai has a style and swag of its own — from its distinctive dialect to its unique way of doing things.

As the GCC Commissioner, I now have the privilege of contributing to the city I have come to love. The GCC’s focus is on making Chennai more disaster-resilient, pedestrian-friendly, and better connected through multi-modal mobility. We are strengthening its blue-green infrastructure, creating more public spaces, and making the city greener, with a target of planting 12 lakh saplings this year.

I feel grateful to be a part of this remarkable city. Chennai is not merely a place where I have lived or worked; it is a city that has, in its own quiet way, become a part of me.

(As told to R. Aishwaryaa)

Published - August 21, 2026 12:43 am IST