Maharashtra set to become major data centre hub, says CM; asks officials to accelerate clearances

Maharashtra is preparing to emerge as a major data centre hub, with the state government accelerating clearances and implementation of projects linked to agreements signed at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Switzerland, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.

Reviewing the implementation of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed at Davos and the status of data centre projects under the state's Information Technology and Support Services Policy and Integrated Green Data Centre Park Policy-2024, Fadnavis said 10 senior officials would each be assigned responsibility for monitoring 10 projects to ensure their completion within stipulated timelines.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State Madhuri Misal, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Abha Shukla, Industries Principal Secretary Dr P Anbalagan, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) CEO P Velarasu and CIDCO Managing Director Vijay Singhal, an official release said.

''The administration should take the initiative and complete land allotment, environmental approvals, building plans and various permissions within the next three months instead of waiting for follow-up from companies. Maharashtra is progressing rapidly in the data centre sector and is moving towards becoming one of the largest data centre investment hubs in the country,'' Fadnavis said.

He said the state's data centre projects were currently in the ''investment in progress'' stage and were expected to attract substantial investments.

''The power and water required for these data centres are available in abundance in Maharashtra. Therefore, greater emphasis should be laid on simplification of processes and increasing land availability and distribution so that these projects are completed within the prescribed timeframe,'' he said.

Navi Mumbai was emerging as the state's principal data centre hub, with major projects coming up in Mahape and surrounding areas, the CM added.

He said plans were underway to develop Khalapur as the third important data centre cluster, while infrastructure strengthening in the Panvel region was also being prioritised.

The chief minister said the manufacturing sector investments included major projects in electronics, semiconductor chips, aerospace, textiles, automobiles and defence, while priority was also being given to data centres, IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS), fintech and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in the services sector.

Fadnavis also reviewed projects being implemented by City and Industrial Development Corporation and directed officials to expedite university projects in the Aerocity area, along with logistics parks, entertainment hubs, data centres and studio apartment projects.

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