HCLTech is set to establish its first owned data centre in India, an artificial intelligence (AI)-optimized facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a proposed investment of Rs.730 crore.

The project, which will also include a Global Development Centre (GDC), is expected to create around 6,000 skilled jobs and significantly strengthen the state’s digital and technology infrastructure.

According to reports, an agreement (MoU) for the integrated campus is likely to be signed with the Odisha government on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and HCLTech Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra.

The Odisha government has already approved the initiative, viewing it as a major step toward accelerating the development of an AI-driven technology ecosystem in the state.

While HCLTech has long provided data centre-related services, including infrastructure management and cloud transformation for global enterprises, the company has not previously owned a data centre in India.

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The Bhubaneswar project therefore marks a significant strategic shift for the IT major as it expands its presence in the fast-growing digital infrastructure space.

The move follows HCLTech’s recent announcement to invest Rs.3,500 crore (approximately $364 million) in a new data centre business. The company plans to route these investments through newly established subsidiaries, with the aim of building a network of facilities that could eventually reach a total capacity of 50 megawatts (MW).

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HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar has highlighted the rapid rise in global demand for data centres, driven largely by the accelerating adoption of AI technologies.

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He noted that worldwide data centre demand is expected to nearly triple by 2030, while India is likely to witness even faster growth, creating significant opportunities for companies investing in AI-ready infrastructure.