ENA State 2026-04-29 13:39:55 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Amaravati, Apr 29 (KNN)</strong> In a significant development for Indias digital infrastructure, Google has laid the foundation for a USD 15 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data centre hub near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">This marks one of the largest foreign direct investments in the country, reported Times Of India.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The project, named Google Cloud India AI Hub, is being developed in partnership with Adani ConneX and Airtel Nxtra. It is expected to be Googles largest infrastructure initiative in India and its biggest AI hub outside the United States.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Speaking at the foundation ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described the project as a growth engine for the countrys digital economy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Large-Scale Facility, Jobs and Tech Ecosystem Push </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The facility will include a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre spread across multiple locations, with around 601 acres allocated for development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The project is slated to be operational by September 2028 and is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities, particularly for local youth. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Officials indicated that the initiative could help position Visakhapatnam as a major digital and technology hub, potentially reversing migration trends.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Strengthening Indias AI and Digital Backbone </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the AI hub aligns with Indias broader vision of becoming a global technology leader. He noted that the project, along with planned subsea cable infrastructure, would strengthen the countrys digital backbone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The investment also underscores growing collaboration between global technology firms and Indias domestic infrastructure providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The development is expected to support advancements in AI capabilities, cloud services, and data processing infrastructure, while contributing to the expansion of Indias digital economy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>(KNN Bureau)</strong></em></span></p> 45959 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/state/google-lays-foundation-for-usd-15-billion-ai-data-centre-hub-in-visakhapatnam 2026-04-29 13:39:55 knnindia.co.in