en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Adani Group has proposed an investment of ₹1 trillion to the Odisha government to build a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data center, requesting approximately 250 acres of land. If approved, the project would become one of India's largest AI data infrastructure initiatives, second only to Google's 1-gigawatt project planned in Andhra Pradesh.

The Odisha government is currently evaluating the proposal, with review focusing on key conditions such as land, power supply, water resources, and connectivity. According to informed officials, Cuttack has been listed as a potential site, but a final decision has not yet been made. The project will be independently funded by the Adani Group rather than through a joint venture. The Adani Group has also submitted a request for preferential policies to the state government. Once due diligence is completed and terms are finalized, the proposal will be submitted to a high-level approval body chaired by the Chief Minister for consideration.

This investment plan aligns with the Adani Group's strategy to invest $100 billion by 2035 in building hyperscale AI-ready data centers powered by renewable energy. The group currently operates a data center in Chennai through its joint venture EdgeConneX and is advancing additional facilities in Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad.

For Odisha, this proposal marks a significant step in attracting investments in emerging sectors such as AI, electronics, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure. Traditionally dominated by metals and mining, the state is leveraging its land resources, power capacity, coastal connectivity, and policy support to transform into a new hub for digital infrastructure. Several data center projects have already been established in the state, including a ₹1.69 billion facility by the Reserve Bank of India nearing completion, and a state-run next-generation data center with an investment of ₹2.6648 billion. The Adani Group had previously signed a memorandum of understanding worth ₹8 billion for a hyperscale data center in the state. Additionally, Zoho Corporation is building a ₹3.06 billion facility in Khordha, while HCLTech has proposed an AI-optimized data center with a budget of ₹142.57 billion within the planned Sovereign AI Park.

This proposal reflects the intensifying competition among Indian conglomerates in the AI and cloud infrastructure space. Google is building a $15 billion AI data center in Visakhapatnam, and Reliance Industries has proposed a ₹1.08 trillion gigascale AI data center and submarine cable landing station in Andhra Pradesh, with land already allocated.