Big tech boost for Odisha: HCLTech’s Rs 730 crore AI Hub in Bhubaneswar to generate 6,000 jobs

In a major boost to Odisha 's growing technology ecosystem, HCL Technologies (HCLTech) is set to establish its first company owned artificial intelligence optimised data centre in India in Bhubaneswar with a proposed investment of around Rs 730 Cr. The project will also include a Global Development Centre (GDC) and is expected to generate nearly 6,000 high skilled jobs, strengthening Odisha's position as an emerging hub for AI and digital infrastructure. According to reports, HCLTech is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and HCLTech Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra. The proposal has already received approval from the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA). The integrated campus is likely to come up at Info Valley II in Bhubaneswar and will support next generation AI computing workloads. It will enable HCLTech to deliver advanced AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital engineering and enterprise technology services to global clients from Odisha. The facility marks a significant milestone for HCLTech, which has so far offered data centre management, cloud transformation and infrastructure services without owning a data centre in India. It follows the company's recently announced Rs 3,500 Cr investment plan to build a dedicated data centre business through newly created subsidiaries. HCLTech plans to develop a network with a capacity of up to 50 megawatts to meet the rapidly growing demand for AI driven computing and enterprise technology services. The company's CEO C Vijayakumar has said global demand for data centres is expected to nearly triple by 2030, with India witnessing even faster growth. The investment further strengthens Bhubaneswar's emergence as a digital infrastructure hub. The city already hosts the National Informatics Centre data centre and the Odisha State Data Centre, while the Reserve Bank of India is nearing completion of its data centre. Adani Group has also announced plans for a hyperscale data centre in the city, with the Odisha government working on another next generation facility.