Inside UP's 1,000-acre data center hub plan in Bundelkhand: Location, land and investment incentives explained

Uttar Pradesh is planning a 1,000-acre dedicated data center and information technology hub in Bundelkhand near Jhansi as part of a much larger industrial city being developed in 33 villages. The proposed technology cluster is intended to attract data center operators and IT companies to the region, which the state wants to develop as a new industrial destination.

The project is still in the planning and spatial planning phase. Of the 1,000 acres targeted for the centre, 810 acres have been collected as of October 16, according to officials quoted by Business Standard.

Here’s what’s known about the proposed project, its location and the planned infrastructure around it.

Where will the 1,000-acre data center center be located?

The center is proposed under the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) development in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh. BIDA covers a planned 56,662 acres in 33 villages and is earmarked for industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects. A data center and IT cluster would occupy a dedicated part of this larger development.

The scope of the wider project is significant. The state approved the acquisition of 35,298 acres in the first phase and 21,364 acres in the second phase. By October 16, 28,874 acres had been acquired against the first phase target, according to the report.

The proposed technology hub should not be confused with the entire BIDA township. The allotment of 1,000 acres is intended for data center and IT cluster, with wider development expected to cover several industries.

What will the data center hub contain?

The proposed cluster is meant to support data centers and IT businesses, but its detailed layout and facilities to be developed on 1,000 acres have not been determined by the official review material.

Important infrastructure requirements for data center operators will include reliable electricity supplies, high-capacity telecommunications connectivity, cooling systems, water management and road access. These are requirements for viable data center development, not confirmation that every facility has already been sanctioned for that site.

BIDA’s broader development is also expected to cover automotive, defense, FMCG, healthcare, logistics and other industries. Its master plan and sectoral planning will determine how different uses are organized in the municipality.

How far along is the project?

The reported acquisition of 810 acres marks progress towards the proposed 1,000-acre hub. However, ground mounting is only one stage of development.

BIDA has identified an activation area of 2,320 acres, with 1,000 acres proposed for development. A detailed project report has been submitted to the government, while the draft sector plan is said to be finalized after the approval of the BIDA 2045 master plan. Available information does not show that the 1,000-acre data center hub is identical to the proposed 1,000-acre development area in the activation zone.

A government tender published on October 19 also invites bids for sector planning advice, detailed project reports and tendering assistance for the infrastructure is working according to the BIDA Master Plan 2045. This indicates that important planning and infrastructure work is still ongoing.

what’s next

Other milestones include completion of targeted land development, finalization of relevant plans, development of supporting infrastructure and announcement of private participation.

For the project to move beyond the zoning and planning proposal, potential operators will need to clarify the availability of power, connectivity, water and cooling, project timetables and the conditions under which the land will be allocated.