DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit 4th edition brings together thought leaders 

The fourth edition of the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit on 21st February, brought together influential thought leaders to shape a bold and resilient future for Bengaluru. 

The flagship annual summit, held at the JW Mariott, saw day-long discussions that outlined interventions to help Bengaluru shift to mission mode, as the city enters an exciting phase of global prospects and local challenges. 

Welcoming the audience, KV Subramanya, Executive Editor, Deccan Herald, explained how Bengaluru’s leading newspaper has been documenting the city’s triumphs and challenges. “Today, as the city stands at a pivotal juncture, this summit reflects our commitment to fostering actionable dialogue on building a Bengaluru that is thriving, sustainable, and liveable by 2040,” he stated and expressed confidence that Bengaluru would reinvent itself, as it always has. 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his inaugural address, spoke of the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative, and asserted that "progressive urban planning" would be integrated with "responsible governance". 

“Bengaluru represents innovation and progress while remaining deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. The strength of Bengaluru lies in its people, the dreamers, the doers and the changemakers," Siddaramaiah said. "Our collective responsibility is to ensure the city's progress benefits everyone — from small business owners to corporate leaders." 

The chief minister also announced several urban infrastructure projects, including tunnel roads, a second international airport, four zones for systematic and effective disposal of waste, digitisation of property tax records, and a global hub for innovation and sustainability. 

Delivering the keynote address, Chetan Maini, co-founder and chairman of Sun Mobility, called for a shift from the culture of 'swalpa adjust maadi' to 'swalpa innovate maadi'. 

“The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), electric vehicles and renewable energy offer Bengaluru a chance to take the lead in revolution that will fundamentally reshape the way we live… Faster adoption of EVs has already put Bengaluru in a good position to unlock the future potential of sustainable and intelligent mobility,” he noted.

The summit serves as a platform to chart the city's course through emerging global opportunities and pressing local challenges — an endeavour that aligns with the DH tagline, The Power of Good. Designed as the voice of the invested Bengalurean, the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit aims to inspire tangible, positive action on the ground. 

This year’s summit hosted policymakers, bureaucrats, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, urban planners, mobility experts, artistes and academics in curated panel discussions focused on identifying actionable ideas across sectors. Topics ranged from redefining work and workplaces in the AI era to how Bengaluru can retain its supremacy as India's start-up capital, and from tracking the city's real-estate growth to cleaning up a Bengaluru for the future. 

The summit also provided food for thought on some of the most pressing critical urban challenges, including the need for a second airport, green mobility initiatives, cybercrime prevention, and mental wellness in a future-ready metropolis. 

‘Deccan Herald Bengaluru 2040 Summit’ Presenting partner – Puravankara, powered by EuroSchool, Supported by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Luxury Watch Partner – Hublot, Knowledge Partners – Cambridge Institute of Technology and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mobility Partner - Mercedes Benz Akshay Motors, Healthcare Partner  - Manipal Hospitals, Associate Sponsors – BMRCL, Gas Authority of India Ltd., Visveswaraya Technological University, Margadarsi and Adfactors PR. Television partner – Republic TV

A special video highlighting the key discussion at the event will be aired on Republic TV on March 1st and 2nd and 5:30 pm.