The Maharashtra government has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lodha Developers Ltd to establish a Green Integrated Data Centre Park in Palava, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The Rs 30,000-crore initiative, spanning 370 acres and planned to host multiple domestic and international data centre players, aims to generate 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while promoting clean energy use. Lodha, leveraging its decades-long construction legacy, will serve as the developer for companies keen on setting up data centres under this sustainable infrastructure model.

Back in 2019, the Government of Maharashtra declared Integrated Data Centres as a ‘Thrust Area’ for industrial growth in the state. In recent times, the demand for data centres is increasing with the growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital services. In a bid to ensure that data centres thrive in the state, the Government of Maharashtra introduced Green Integrated Data Centre Parks policy last year in October.      

Under this policy, data centres, which are significant consumers of electricity, will be powered by green and alternative energy sources. To begin with, three parks will be set up under the programme in the MMR region.    

The MoU outlines that the total proposed investment would be of Rs 30,000 crore and create 6000 direct and indirect jobs. The park, spread over 370 acres, with a planned capacity of 2 gigawatts, is designed to host multiple leading international and domestic players. Combined investments of over Rs 30,000 crore are anticipated from Lodha and various data centre players in this park.  

“We are excited to partner with the Government of Maharashtra in this unique initiative. The Green Integrated Data Centre Parks policy will not only create employment opportunities, boost Maharashtra’s & Indian economy, but will also operate on clean and green energy sources benefiting generations. We at Lodha, have taken giant leaps towards sustainability and are aiming for net zero across all our operations in the coming years. We are committed to the success of the Green Integrated Data Centre Park and look forward to many such partnerships with the government, all of which enable India to become a global leader by 2047,” said Abhishek Lodha, MD & CEO of Lodha Developers Ltd.