The CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Chandigarh Chapter successfully organised the Green BuildTech Summit, on 3rd June 2026 at CII Northern Headquarters, its flagship sustainability platform, bringing together policymakers, urban planners, developers, architects, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to deliberate on the theme “High-Performance Buildings & Sustainable Urban Growth.” The summit highlighted the critical role of sustainable infrastructure and high-performance buildings in shaping the future of the Chandigarh Tricity region and accelerating India’s transition towards a low-carbon built environment.
The summit was addressed and attended by Dr. Amarpal Singh, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Punjab School Education Board; Rakesh Kumar Goyal, Chairperson, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Punjab; Gurmeet Singh Chawla, Vice Chairman, CII Chandigarh UT and Director, Master Trust Ltd.; Col Shailesh Pathak, Immediate Past Chair, IGBC Chandigarh Chapter & CEO, Art N Glass; Jagjit Singh Majha, Chairman, IGBC Chandigarh Chapter and Managing Director, Innovative Housing & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.; and M Anand, Deputy Executive Director, CII Indian Green Building Council, along with urban development authorities, architects, developers, sustainability consultants, financial institutions, technology providers, academic leaders, and industry professionals, reinforcing the growing momentum for green and high-performance buildings in northern India. Through thought-provoking discussions and collaborative engagement, IGBC Green BuildTech Summit successfully created a platform to advance policy dialogue, promote innovation, and strengthen partnerships that will drive sustainable urban growth and climate-resilient development across the region.
In his Special Address, Dr. Amarpal Singh, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, emphasised the role of awareness, capacity building, and institutional leadership in driving sustainable development. He remarked, “Being a builder is far more than constructing structures; it is about shaping the environment, communities, and ecosystems that surround them. Every design decision and every building we create leaves an impact that extends far beyond its walls. If sustainability becomes a way of thinking rather than a compliance requirement, we can create a future where development and nature coexist in harmony. While our generation may have contributed to many of the environmental challenges we face today, it is our collective responsibility to equip the next generation with the knowledge, values, and mindset to reverse that damage. Green is not merely a colour, it is a way of life, a philosophy of responsible living, and a commitment to building a better world for all forms of life that share this planet.”
Addressing the gathering, Rakesh Kumar Goyal, Chairperson, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Punjab, highlighted the increasing significance of sustainability in the real estate sector and the growing preference among homebuyers and investors for environmentally responsible developments. He said, “I believe sustainability is no longer an optional consideration for the real estate sector—it is an imperative. As developers, architects, regulators, and industry stakeholders, we must collectively embrace resource-efficient, climate-responsive, and environmentally responsible development practices. I have observed that homebuyers and investors today are increasingly seeking projects that prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation, and green building principles. Sustainability is not only essential for protecting our environment but is also becoming a key driver of long-term value creation, resilience, and stakeholder confidence. The future of real estate will be shaped by developments that successfully balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.”
Addressing the inaugural session, Jagjit Singh Majha, Chairman, IGBC Chandigarh Chapter and Managing Director, Innovative Housing & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., welcomed the distinguished guests and delegates and emphasised the importance of integrating sustainability into mainstream urban development, said, “The Chandigarh Tricity region stands at a pivotal stage in its development journey. As demand for quality infrastructure and real estate continues to rise, we must ensure that growth is guided by sustainability principles. High-performance buildings offer a practical pathway to optimise energy and water consumption, improve occupant well-being, and create resilient communities. Through platforms like Green BuildTech 2026, IGBC aims to strengthen collaboration among government, industry, and academia to accelerate the adoption of green and net-zero building practices across the region. Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab 1,700+ registered projects amounting to 1.09 billion sq ft of green building footprint. This shows how the state continues to witness rapid urbanisation and infrastructure growth, and the adoption of high-performance buildings is essential for ensuring resource efficiency, climate resilience, and long-term economic value.”
Today across Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab we are seeing a huge growth in green and net zero building adoption. Along with 23 Net Zero Projects, there are 1,098 projects commercial projects, 467 residential projects, 95 industrial projects, 23 Built Environment Projects, 30 Transit Infrastructure Projects.
The summit featured a series of insightful panel discussions and technical sessions focusing on urban growth, high-performance development, net-zero buildings, low-carbon construction technologies, water-efficient infrastructure, sustainable financing, and policy interventions required to accelerate green building adoption. A key highlight of the summit was the panel discussion on “Tricity at an Inflection Point – Aligning Urban Growth with High-Performance Development.” The session examined how sustainability and high-performance buildings are influencing the next phase of urban expansion in the Chandigarh Tricity region. The discussion explored emerging trends in buyer preferences, project positioning, asset valuation, and the challenges associated with scaling sustainable development across growing urban corridors. The session was chaired by M. Anand, Deputy Executive Director, CII Indian Green Building Council, and featured an eminent panel comprising Ar. Mandeep Kaur, Chief Town Planner, Government of Punjab; Ajay Vir Sehgal, Managing Director, Chandigarh Colonisers Pvt. Ltd.; Vikas Gupta, Director, Ananta Aspire; Ar. Shivjit Sidhu, Principal Architect, Apostrophe A+uD; Dr. Vishal Garg, Director, Indorama Ventures Center for Clean Energy, Plaksha University; Ar. Tripath Girdhar, Founder and Principal Architect, Arete Design Studio; and Ar. Rashmi Sharma, Principal Architect, Arkon Infratech.
The summit also hosted a technical session on “Scalable Solutions for High-Performance Buildings,” which focused on innovative technologies, materials, and integrated design approaches that can enable cost-effective and large-scale adoption of sustainable building practices. Chaired by Ar. Sukumar Jairath, Founder, Studio by Design, showcased practical solutions for enhancing building performance and reducing environmental impact. Experts shared insights on critical topics including net-zero frameworks and India’s roadmap for net-zero buildings, low-carbon construction solutions, water-positive infrastructure, water-efficient building systems, and advanced reflective materials for energy-efficient buildings. The session featured presentations by Naveen Jain, Counsellor, CII IGBC; Karanvir Singh, Regional Manager – Projects, Saint-Gobain India Private Limited; Ankit Magan, Founder, Retas Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Amarjit Singh Matharu, Business Head – GIS Division, Jaquar Group; and Supreet Singh, CEO and Founder, StarShield Technologies. The discussions underscored the growing availability of scalable technologies that can support the transition toward net-zero and high-performance buildings across India.
Another major attraction of the summit was the panel discussion on “Enabling Sustainable Urban Growth – Policy, Finance & Industry Collaboration.” The session focused on the critical enablers required to accelerate the adoption of high-performance buildings and sustainable urban infrastructure across the Tricity region. Chaired by Ar. Jit Kumar Gupta, Past Chairman, IGBC Chandigarh Chapter and Former Advisor (Town Planning), PUDA, the discussion brought together leaders from government, finance, architecture, and urban development. Distinguished panelists included Er. C.B. Ojha, Chief Engineer, Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration; Ar. Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Architect, Government of Haryana; Ar. Shelja Gupta, Founder and Principal Architect, Designing Earth by Bhoomi; Autif Sayyed, South Asia Lead – Green & Resilient Buildings, IFC; and Ar Pritpal Ahluwalia, Chairman, IIA Punjab Chapter. The panel deliberated on policy reforms, sustainable financing mechanisms, public-private collaboration models, and regulatory frameworks necessary to mainstream green and high-performance buildings at scale.
The summit culminated with an insightful Master Session on “Scaling Net Zero Buildings – From Framework to Execution,” which explored strategies for translating ambitious sustainability targets into measurable on-ground outcomes. The session highlighted the importance of integrated design, performance-driven delivery, technological innovation, and stakeholder collaboration in achieving net-zero goals. The keynote presentation was delivered by Ashish Rakheja, Chairman, IGBC Technical Committee, President-Elect, ASHRAE, and Partner, AEON Integrated Building Design Consultants LLP, who shared valuable insights on India’s net-zero building roadmap and the practical considerations required to accelerate adoption across the built environment. The session provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how organizations can move from sustainability commitments to successful implementation and measurable performance outcomes.
The event concluded with a strong call for greater collaboration among governments, industry leaders, financial institutions, urban planners, and technology providers to accelerate the adoption of high-performance and net-zero buildings. Participants collectively reaffirmed their commitment to advancing sustainable urban growth and strengthening the Tricity region’s position as a model for climate-responsive and future-ready development.
