The Adani Group, one of India's largest multinational conglomerates, has announced its plans to invest Rs 21,844 crore for the development of data centres and IT parks in Andhra Pradesh. The state government has signed an agreement with the Adani Group to develop a data centre with a total capacity of 300 megawatts, an IT business park, a skill college, and a recreation centre on 190.29 acres of land near Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam.

The investment by the Adani Group is expected to drive economic growth in Vizag and create job opportunities for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The data centre alone is expected to directly employ 1,860 people, while the IT business park will provide employment opportunities for over 32,000 people. Additionally, officials estimate that up to 3,000 more people will get employment through skill colleges and recreation centres.

The state government has entered into an agreement with Visakha Tech Park Limited (VTPL), the special company set up by the Adani Group for this project, to provide subsidies and incentives over seven years on the basis of job creation. The project is set to be completed in seven years, in five phases. The government has ordered that at least 40 megawatts of data centre capacity will be made available in the first phase, with 30 percent of people being directly employed. In four years, 50 percent of people should be given employment, and in seven years, employment should be given to all.

The Adani Group initially proposed to set up a data centre with 200 megawatts on 130 acres of land, but later expressed readiness to set up another 100 megawatt data centre. As a result, the state government issued orders allocating another 60.29 acres of land. The Adani Group's investment will also help to improve the IT infrastructure in Vizag, which will further attract more businesses and investments to the city.

Furthermore, the Adani Group's investment in Vizag aligns with the Indian government's vision to transform the country into a digital hub. The government has launched various initiatives to promote the adoption of digital technologies and has set a target of making India a $1 trillion digital economy by 2025. The development of data centres and IT parks is crucial to achieving this goal and will help create a robust digital infrastructure in the country.