Developed in strategic partnership with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel, this project establishes a gigawatt-scale AI ecosystem to power Viksit Bharat.
Google officially broke ground on its landmark AI hub in Visakhapatnam (Vizag),
Andhra Pradesh. This marks the start of construction on the company’s largest investment in India’s
digital future to date, as well as reinforces Google’s commitment to being a
long-term partner and catalyst for India’s economic and environmental resilience.
The groundbreaking ceremony, celebrated together with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel, took place at
Tarluvada, Andhra Pradesh, with key dignitaries: Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India; Shri Nara
Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Nara Lokesh, Hon’ble Minister for
Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, RTG and HRD, Government of Andhra
Pradesh; Shri Bikash Koley, Vice President, Google Cloud; Shri Karan Adani, Director, Adani Group; Shri
Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Group; and Shri Rakesh Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises.
From L to R
● Shri. Nara Lokesh – Hon’ble Minister for HRD ITC&E and RTG, Government of Andhra Pradesh
● Shri. Jeet Adani Garu – Chairperson of Adani Group
● Shri. Karan Adani – Managing Director of Adani Ports & SEZ
● Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw Sir – Hon’ble Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics and Information
Technology, Govt. of India
● Shri. Nara Chandrababu Naidu – Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh
● Smt. Laura Williams Garu – U.S. Consulate General
● Shri. Bikash Koley Garu – Vice President of Google Global Infrastructure, Google Cloud
● Shri. Rakesh Mittal Garu – Vice-Chairman, Bharti Enterprises
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble IT Minister, Government of India: “The groundbreaking ceremony of
India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam reflects Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of making India
a global leader in technology. Thanks to the support and commitment of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu Ji, in realising this vision.The India AI Hub and three subsea cables
landing in Visakhapatnam will become very important infrastructure for the country’s journey forward.
Thank you Google for your continued trust in India.”
Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: “Andhra Pradesh is
emerging as India’s premier investment destination, powered by speed, trust, and ease of doing business.
Google’s AI hub in Visakhapatnam will be a cornerstone of our growing tech corridor, driving innovation,
creating high-value opportunities for our youth, and strengthening our position in the global digital
economy. Our vision goes beyond attracting investment – we want local talent, startups, and enterprises
to become active partners in this technology-driven growth story. With the strong support of the Central
Government and in line with the vision of a developed India, this partnership with Google reflects our
commitment to combining cutting-edge innovation with inclusive growth, ensuring opportunities reach
every community across Andhra Pradesh.”
Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud: “Today’s groundbreaking is a powerful realization of our shared
vision with the Indian government, and an inflection point for the country’s AI-native future. Together we
are laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat, and opening new doors for economic opportunity nationwide.
The Google AI hub will serve as a catalyst for growth built on deep community partnerships.”
Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Group: “India’s AI moment will be defined by infrastructure. What we are
building in Visakhapatnam, nearly 1 GW in a single location, signals that shift. When energy becomes
more affordable and increasingly powered by clean sources, intelligence becomes more accessible and
that is how India will lead the next phase of digital growth.”
Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel: “Through our strategic partnership with Google
and Adani to build this landmark AI hub, we will help advance India’s digital ambitions. With
Visakhapatnam emerging as a new hub on the world’s AI map, we will ensure that India sets the pace for
innovation, and sustainable growth, not just for our people, but for the whole world. Our full stack of
best-in-class data centers, use of green power, pan-India ultra-low latency fiber and a next-gen cable
landing station will enable large-scale, world-class AI infrastructure in Vizag.”
A US$15 Billion Blueprint for “Viksit Bharat”
Today’s groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in Google’s $15 billion investment over five years
(2026-2030) to establish a comprehensive AI ecosystem in India, designed to be an important contributor
to the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
First announced in October 2025, this project includes India’s first gigawatt-scale AI hub comprising three
data center campuses. AdaniConnex and Nxtra by Airtel will lead the construction of the data center
buildings and connecting infrastructure, enabling Google to deploy advanced AI capabilities and scale
digital services across India.
The AI hub also comprises the America-India Connect initiative for an expanded fiber-optic network; and
a long-term clean energy strategy that prioritizes bringing new clean energy supply to the electricity grid,
accelerating India’s national goal of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
The AI hub will deliver the high-performance, low-latency services that businesses and organizations
need to build and scale their own AI-powered solutions, accelerate research and development, and
ultimately help India secure its place as a global leader in the AI-driven future.
Driving Multi-Generational Impact and Community Resilience
Beyond technical and industrial significance, the Google India AI hub represents a long-term investment
in local job training, community projects, and the responsible stewardship of shared resources.
Everywhere it operates, Google takes a community-first approach that translates global investment into
local opportunity. In Vizag, Google conducted a thorough community impact assessment based on
community consultations to guide its investments well before beginning construction.
Today, Google announced a comprehensive set of community development initiatives to protect natural
resources and economic security in Visakhapatnam:
● Securing Water Futures: In line with its commitment to water stewardship, Google is partnering
with Sponge Collaborative to launch an integrated watershed management and community
empowerment plan that addresses existing hydrological stress and coastal ecosystem
sensitivities around its data center campuses. This will also link watershed restoration with
community needs such as integrating clean drinking water systems like reverse osmosis plants
and ‘Water ATMs,’ while enhancing resilient livelihood opportunities in local agriculture and
fisheries.
● Modernizing Maritime Trades: Integrating traditional maritime practices into the digital economy
is a vital step toward long-term economic security for coastal residents. Through a strategic
partnership with the Sambhav Foundation, Google is launching a program to equip over 1,000
individuals from the fishing community with GPS navigation and weather-forecasting applications
to enhance safety and operational efficiency, and provide training in cold-chain management and
value-added processing. The program also aims to bridge the digital divide by facilitating
UPI-based financial literacy and streamlining enrollment in marine welfare schemes.
● Empowering Grassroots Innovation: Working with ChangeX, the Google Udaan India Fund
provides direct grants to local schools and social enterprises to advance community projects in
the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region. These projects include AI-led skilling labs, digital
literacy programs, local entrepreneurship, and climate-focused interventions.
● Scaling Women-Led Enterprises: In collaboration with the Learning Links Foundation, Google
is introducing the NARI Shakti program to support women from low-income backgrounds in
building sustainable livelihoods and achieving long-term financial self-reliance. This incubator
program focuses on transitioning home-based work into a stable source of income for 10,000+
existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. By providing targeted training in financial literacy, business
planning, and digital tools, the initiative equips participants with the essential resources needed to
successfully establish and grow their own micro-enterprises.
● Building a Future-Ready Workforce: As Visakhapatnam grows into a major digital hub, Google
is introducing the Skills Trade and Readiness (STAR) program to create sustainable career paths
for local talent while developing a homegrown workforce ready to drive India’s digital acceleration.
With hands-on training in high-demand fields like construction, welding, and facility operations,
the program aims to prepare more than 1,000 people in the local workforce for vital roles in
developing the city’s digital infrastructure. To support long-term career success, the initiative
integrates employability coaching and an AI Literacy Mission. In tandem, Google is partnering
with ICT Academy to train 1,200+ local students and educators to gain access to specialized
tracks in cloud computing and generative AI.
As development of the Google India AI hub progresses, these and other new community-centric programs
will continue to scale in direct response to evolving regional needs. This commitment ensures localized
investments transcend immediate infrastructure requirements to drive sustainable, generational impact
across Andhra Pradesh.
Building India’s AI Industrial Corridor: The Bharat AI Shakti Conclave
The groundbreaking ceremony was accompanied by the Bharat AI Shakti Conclave, a first-of-its-kind
conference organized in strategic partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Hon’ble
Minister Shri Nara Lokesh. The Conclave served as a unique platform for convening suppliers, industry
partners, and infrastructure stakeholders to explore how to translate and accelerate Google’s anchor
investment into a tangible economic value chain for the region.
Themed ‘Collaborating to Deliver India’s AI Corridor,’ the Conclave reflects a deliberate industrial strategy:
Google’s investment in Visakhapatnam is designed not only to build world-class infrastructure, but to
catalyze a broader technology ecosystem that multiplies the benefits to the local economy. From
prioritizing a local-first procurement approach for vital infrastructure activities, to integrating local small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) under Google’s global safety and operational frameworks, the project
aims to facilitate capacity building and effectively raise the competitiveness of regional industry players for
future large-scale infrastructure work.
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