Bhubaneswar, July 27: HCLTech has announced plans to invest ₹14,257 crore in setting up a state of the art artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Odisha, marking one of the company’s biggest digital infrastructure projects in India. The investment is expected to significantly boost the country’s AI capabilities while generating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.
The proposed facility will be developed in collaboration with sovereign AI startup Sarvam and the Odisha government. The project aims to provide advanced computing infrastructure required for developing large language models, AI-powered applications, cloud services and enterprise digital solutions.
Industry experts believe the investment reflects India’s growing ambition to become a global hub for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. With businesses increasingly adopting AI-driven technologies, demand for secure and scalable data infrastructure has risen sharply over the past few years.
State government officials welcomed the announcement, stating that the project would strengthen Odisha’s position as an emerging technology and innovation destination. Besides attracting allied industries, the investment is expected to encourage startups, research institutions and technology companies to expand operations in the region.
HCLTech said the facility will support next-generation AI workloads while contributing to India’s digital transformation initiatives. The company also plans to develop a skilled workforce by collaborating with educational institutions and training centres to prepare professionals for emerging AI technologies.
Analysts view the investment as a strategic move that aligns with the Centre’s focus on expanding domestic digital infrastructure and reducing dependence on overseas computing resources. The project is also expected to enhance India’s competitiveness in global AI research and enterprise technology services.
Construction activities are expected to begin after regulatory approvals and land-related formalities are completed. Once operational, the AI data centre is likely to become one of the country’s major computing hubs supporting government, enterprise and startup innovation.