The government of Andhra Pradesh, a state on the east coast of southern India, has announced plans to develop a 500-acre Data City in Madhurawada, a major business and residential area of Visakhapatnam, a port city and industrial centre.
The aim is to provide infrastructure for companies to locate data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) hubs for companies which require their services. Also of course the state government also hopes that its Data City, sited less than 30 kilometres from the Bhogapuram International Airport, will attract investments and advanced technology.
Local reports suggest that approach will attempt to replicate the Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City (HITEC City) in Telengana. The state government has launched a policy initiative to position Visakhapatnam as a global IT destination.
In fact it has already attracted a number of multinational tech giants to Visakhapatnam. Google is set to establish a facility on 80 acres in Visakhapatnam and has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide AI training and skill development programmes for local youth. The 80 acres allotted for Google’s data centre is said to be near the proposed Data City site.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant have either planned a move into Visakhapatnam or shown interest in launching operations there.
Reports suggest that the land acquisition process for the data city is already under way and that the Visakhapatnam district revenue department is actively working on securing the required land.
