Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 6: The Maharashtra government is accelerating its push to establish the state as India's leading data centre hub, with projects worth nearly Rs 16.7 lakh crore in the pipeline as part of its broader digital infrastructure strategy.
The initiative is expected to attract substantial domestic and foreign investments, create employment opportunities and strengthen Maharashtra's position in the country's rapidly growing digital economy.
State officials said the government is focusing on developing world-class data centre infrastructure by facilitating investments, improving power availability and streamlining approvals. The move aligns with the increasing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital services and data storage across sectors.
The proposed investments are expected to come from a mix of technology companies, infrastructure developers and global data centre operators seeking to expand their presence in India. Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are likely to remain key destinations due to their connectivity, financial ecosystem and access to undersea cable networks.
The government believes the expansion of data centres will generate significant economic activity, create direct and indirect jobs and support the growth of allied industries such as construction, power, telecommunications and information technology.
Officials said the state's policy framework is designed to position Maharashtra as a preferred destination for large-scale digital infrastructure projects amid growing global demand for secure and reliable data storage facilities.
The data centre push forms part of Maharashtra's wider strategy to attract high-value investments, strengthen digital capabilities and support emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud-based services.
Industry experts view the sector as one of the fastest-growing segments of the digital economy, with demand expected to rise sharply as businesses, governments and consumers increasingly rely on data-driven services.