HCLTech is preparing to establish its first owned data centre in India, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The location chosen for a new artificial intelligence (AI)-ready facility will also house a Global Development Centre (GDC).
The proposed project, valued at around ₹730 crore, marks the IT services company’s entry into owning and operating data centre infrastructure in the country, as demand for AI computing, cloud services and digital infrastructure continues to rise.
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AI-Ready Campus to Support Next-Generation Workloads
The integrated campus will be developed at Info Valley-II in Bhubaneswar and is expected to support AI workloads, cloud computing, cybersecurity, enterprise technology and digital engineering services for HCLTech’s global customers.
The company is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government to formalise the investment.
The project follows HCLTech’s recent announcement that it will invest up to ₹3,500 crore in AI-focused data centres across India through newly created subsidiaries. The wider investment plan is designed to build up to 50 MW of capacity as enterprises and governments increase spending on AI infrastructure.
Odisha Strengthens its Position as an Emerging Data Centre Hub
The Odisha government has approved the proposal as part of a wider industrial investment programme. Officials expect the HCLTech project to generate around 6,000 high-skilled jobs while strengthening the state’s digital ecosystem.
Bhubaneswar is steadily building a strong data centre ecosystem. The city already hosts the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the State Data Centre.
The Reserve Bank of India is close to completing its own data centre in the city with an investment of ₹169 crore, while the Adani Group has proposed an ₹800 crore hyperscale data centre. Odisha is also developing a next-generation State Data Centre worth ₹266.48 crore.
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HCLTech’s Long-Term AI Strategy
HCLTech has said the rapid growth of AI is reshaping demand for computing infrastructure worldwide.
The company believes AI-ready data centres will complement its existing cloud, managed services and digital transformation business while allowing it to offer end-to-end AI infrastructure solutions to enterprise and government customers.
As investments in AI infrastructure accelerate across India, HCLTech’s move signals how traditional IT services firms are expanding beyond software to own critical digital infrastructure that supports the country’s growing AI ambitions.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
