Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for a landmark $15 billion Google Artificial Intelligence data centre near Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. The project, attended by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is being viewed as a defining milestone in India’s digital and AI infrastructure ambitions, positioning Visakhapatnam as an emerging global technology hub. Nara Lokesh, the Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications for Andhra Pradesh was also present at the project inauguration. In an exclusive interview with ET Now, Nara Lokesh shared how this Google AI Data centre is a milestone for India’s IT infrastructure.
What does this AI data centre project in Visakhapatnam mean for the region?
A: This project is not just significant for Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh, but for the entire country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we’ve been able to bring in reforms that India has not seen before—especially around clarity on permanent establishment and tax holidays.
Together, we worked to secure this investment, and I believe this is just the beginning. This is a 1 GW facility, but much more will follow. For the first time, we are seeing inbound interest rather than outbound efforts for attracting investment into the data ecosystem.
What kind of broader ecosystem do you expect this investment to trigger?
A: It’s not just about data centres. The idea is to build a full ecosystem—cooling systems, server manufacturing, power electronics, rack manufacturing, and everything that supports this sector.
This will make Andhra Pradesh a highly competitive and sustainable hub for the entire AI and data infrastructure value chain.
What is the expected timeline for this project to be completed?
A: The timeline has already been set. Our Chief Minister has indicated that August 15, 2028 is when the facility will be inaugurated and dedicated to the nation, with the Prime Minister expected to be present.
We are working backward from that date to ensure everything is delivered on time. When there are fixed timelines, we execute.
Google has indicated this will power its Gemini AI services. How important is this for Visakhapatnam’s global profile?
A: It is extremely important. Earlier, people used to search for Visakhapatnam on Google. Now, Google is part of Visakhapatnam’s growth story.
This is a symbiotic relationship that has put the city on the global map. Today, several Fortune 500 companies are also looking at setting up Global Capability Centers in Andhra Pradesh, especially in Visakhapatnam.
There are reports of other large investments in the data center space, including interest from RAIL. What is the pipeline looking like?
A: This is not just on paper. We have already completed key approvals and will move it to cabinet soon, possibly by next month. After that, it will be grounded quickly.
We are focused on execution, not announcements. That is the key difference Andhra Pradesh offers today—speed of doing business.
How do you respond to criticism that Andhra Pradesh’s political stance on delimitation may disadvantage South India?
A: The Constitution clearly provides that delimitation will be based on the 2026 census. The recent discussions are about ensuring proportional representation while increasing seats overall.
It has also been clarified that there will be an increase in seats—around 50 per cent across states—so South India will not be disadvantaged.
Unfortunately, some political parties are misrepresenting this issue for political gain. If the amendment does not happen, South India risks losing representation. This is why it is important to get it right.
We believe in national unity—India is one nation, not divided into regions competing against each other.
