Maharashtra To Fast-Track Land Allocation For Data Centres
The government has asked the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to develop a land bank to position Maharashtra as a major data infrastructure hub.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday directed officials to fast-track land allocation for data centre companies, particularly those from Central Asia, that have shown interest in investing in the state. At a meeting held at Sahyadri State Guest House, Mr. Fadnavis stressed that land and key approvals must be provided promptly after agreements are signed. He also instructed authorities to prioritise electricity supply for such projects.
The government has asked the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to develop a land bank to position Maharashtra as a major data infrastructure hub. According to a senior official, the proposed projects are expected to generate around 4.5 lakh jobs, including nearly two lakh direct permanent positions.
The Chief Minister said several leading global data centre companies are keen to invest in the state, and all processes related to project implementation—particularly land allocation—must be completed within a fixed timeline. He also directed that adequate power supply be ensured on priority and asked CIDCO to expedite creation of a land bank. The Energy Department has been instructed to make land available immediately for setting up substations.
Officials said the Chief Minister has asked the industries department to accelerate the rollout of data centres across key cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Nagpur.
A senior official said the government is in the final stages of acquiring 2,500 to 3,000 acres of land for data centres and allied projects at Taloja, Mahape, and Mumbai 3.0.
“In the first phase, ten gigawatt-scale data centres are planned. Land has already been allotted for six gigawatt capacity in the state. Hyperscale companies have come on board, and land for an additional four gigawatt capacity is expected to be allocated within the next three to four months,” the official said.
Some of these facilities will be developed as green data centres powered by renewable energy and are expected to have power distribution licences.
To support the infrastructure, the state plans to establish dedicated substations for electricity supply. Additionally, between 800 and 1,000 million litres per day (MLD) of treated sewage water will be made available to meet operational requirements.
“The Chief Minister has directed the industries department to provide a detailed timeline covering land acquisition, electricity supply, and water availability for these projects. The department is expected to submit the timeline within the next 10 days,” the official added.
