In 2015, the Indian government launched the Smart Cities Programme to support cities in becoming more resilient to social and environmental challenges while fostering safe and sustainable living. Chennai was one of the first cities selected to implement the new program. In Chennai, the development of the plan was prepared through a bottom-up approach – promoting citizen participation to understand residents’ challenges, needs, and preferences. Local stakeholders were engaged through 15 public consultations, essay and drawing competitions for students, the involvement of citizens organisations such as Citizens of Chennai, and more. The programme is split into five focus areas: Mobility, Technology, Water, and Environment. For the Smart Environment Initiative, Chennai Smart Cities has thus far worked on retrofitting green spaces, creating sensory parks, traffic parks, restoring water bodies, and investing in vertical gardens.