Maharashtra to Establish Four New Data Centre Parks in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur
Maharashtra will consolidate its position as India's digital infrastructure hub with the development of four new data centre parks in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. Maharashtra Industry Secretary P. Anbalagan made the announcement at the CII Datacentre Summit.
Anbalagan has pointed out Maharashtra's preeminence in India's data economy with 60 per cent of the nation's data centre businesses being located here, with Mumbai contributing as much as 54.9 per cent of the total capacity. "With world-class digital infrastructure, stable power, and key connectivity, Maharashtra is ready to drive India's digital future", he stated.
The data center capacity of the state is expected to grow from 500 MW to 800 MW by 2028, further solidifying its position as a leader in India's digital expansion. With India's overall operational capacity standing at 2,337 MW, another 1.5 GW of expansion is expected to cope with increased demands.
Energy management is also a major problem for the industry. The new policy on data centres brings with it power banking, with captive power operators able to reconcile between non-peak (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and peak hours. Anbalagan asked stakeholders to work together with the Energy Ministry so that there could be stability in energy policies over the next five years.
The 2023 policy also simplifies operations through a "deemed license" rule, making regulatory steps easier for standalone data centres and unit holders.
Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation CEO P. Velrasu said the industry was changing fast with progress in 5G, Starlink, and decentralised data centres. He stressed the importance of smart energy solutions, modular infrastructure, and new technologies such as modular nuclear energy in order to maintain long-term growth.
CII Western Region Taskforce on Datacentre Chairman Manoj Paul reaffirmed Maharashtra's attractiveness to investors and service providers, quoting its 40 per cent market share.
Industry experts at the summit emphasized the need for sustainable energy solutions and creative land use policies to streamline costs and welcome future growth. As digital infrastructure continues to grow, Maharashtra is still leading India's data-driven revolution.
