Chennai or Madras, city, southeastern India, capital of Tamil Nadu State, on the Bay of Bengal. One of the principal ports of India.

Industries include vehicle factories, an electrical-engineering firm, rubber and fertilizer factories, and a refinery. The main commodities exported from Madras are leather, iron ore, and cotton textiles. Wheat, machinery, iron and steel, and raw cotton.

Population (1991) 3,841,396 metropolitan area, 3,941,491.

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