Visakhapatnam: In a major technological leap for India, Google has announced the establishment of the country’s first gigawatt-scale data center and its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub in Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hailed the announcement calling it a significant step towards fulfilling the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).
The announcement was made during the ‘Bharat AI Shakti’ event held in New Delhi. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Union Ministers Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and Google Cloud CEO Shri Thomas Kurian.
A Major Boost for the State’s Economy
According to the Union Minister of State for Communications Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar the upcoming 1-GW hyperscale Google Data Centre is expected to generate approximately ₹10,000 crore in revenue for Andhra Pradesh.
He described the project as a “defining milestone” in the state’s journey of progress and self-reliance. Key aspects of the project include:
- Investment: An investment of approximately $15 billion (USD) is planned over five years from 2026 to 2030.
- Job Creation: The project is expected to create 5,000-6,000 direct jobs and a total of 20,000-30,000 jobs in the state.
- Infrastructure: It will bring essential manpower power and cooling facilities to Visakhapatnam creating a significant multiplier effect on the state’s economy.
Prime Minister Modi Applauds the Initiative
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed his delight over the announcement. In a post on the social media platform X he stated:
Delighted by the launch of the Google AI Hub in the dynamic city of Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh. This multi-faceted investment that includes gigawatt-scale data center infrastructure, aligns with our vision to build a Viksit Bharat. It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for All delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens boosting our digital economy and securing India’s place as a global technology leader!”
Dr. Chandrasekhar also appreciated the support for the project from Prime Minister Modi Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Shri Nara Lokesh. He emphasized that the project is a major step in positioning the state as a digital hub and accelerating AI-driven transformation across India.
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