Daijiworld Media Network - News Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 13: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has urged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to transform Mangaluru into a major ‘data centre hub’ and establish a separate Data Centre Special Economic Zone (DCSEZ), positioning the city as a key player in India’s digital growth.
During a meeting with MeitY secretary S Krishnan in New Delhi today, the MP highlighted Mangaluru’s vast potential, strategic advantages, and existing ecosystem. He pointed out the city’s geographic and infrastructural strengths—low seismic risk, abundant water resources, and proximity to international submarine internet cable routes—making it an ideal location for a cable landing station. Such infrastructure, he said, would enhance regional internet speed while significantly boosting India’s data capacity and security.
Capt Chowta stressed that large-scale data centres are now considered essential infrastructure worldwide, underpinning critical sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, financial systems, and national security. He said Mangaluru has immense scope to emerge as India’s regional data backbone and called for policy measures to attract private investment through the creation of a dedicated DCSEZ.
Under the India AI Mission, he also discussed the possibility of bringing multiple AI-related projects to Mangaluru, organising AI hackathons to identify and nurture local talent, developing the city and its surroundings into an IT and innovation hub, creating more job opportunities, promoting manufacturing in the data infrastructure sector, and enhancing exports through New Mangalore Port.
Capt Chowta emphasised that continuous efforts are being made to position Mangaluru as a strategic digital and technology hub aligned with national goals.
Speaking to media after the meeting, he said, “Beyond IT cities like Bengaluru, our aim is to promote IT sector growth here, build our region into a Silicon Beach, and make Mangaluru a data centre hub. I have shared my long-term vision on this with the ministry and discussed bringing India AI Mission projects to our city. This will be a significant contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India and will also encourage Mangalureans worldwide to return and take part in our coast’s IT development.”