Lokesh courts AirTrunk for major data centre investment in Vizag

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh is stepping up efforts to attract large-scale technology investments, with IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh holding a key meeting with Robin Khuda, Chief Executive Officer of global hyperscale data centre operator AirTrunk, in Mumbai. During the meeting, Lokesh invited AirTrunk to establish an “AirTrunk Future Campus” in Visakhapatnam, positioning the coastal city as a major artificial intelligence and data infrastructure hub in India.

Highlighting the state’s vision for digital infrastructure, Lokesh said Visakhapatnam is rapidly emerging as an AI and hyperscale data centre destination. He pointed to ongoing investments by major players, including Google, Reliance Industries and AdaniConneX, as evidence of the city’s growing attractiveness for technology investments.

According to the minister, the state aims to develop up to six gigawatts of data centre capacity in Visakhapatnam and is focusing on creating a comprehensive ecosystem for AI-driven infrastructure. He noted that Andhra Pradesh offers robust connectivity, abundant land availability and reliable renewable energy resources necessary to support energy-intensive data centre operations.

The discussions are part of a sustained effort by the Andhra Pradesh government to bring AirTrunk to the state. Lokesh first met Robin Khuda during his visit to Australia last year, following which AirTrunk representatives and state officials held multiple rounds of discussions on potential investment opportunities.

The development comes shortly after AirTrunk formally entered the Indian market by acquiring Blackstone-backed data centre platform Lumina CloudInfra in April. The acquisition gave the company operational projects in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad with a combined capacity of nearly 600 megawatts, significantly strengthening its footprint in India.

During the latest meeting, Khuda discussed AirTrunk’s India strategy, the integration of Lumina CloudInfra and the company’s future expansion roadmap. He assured the minister that the Andhra Pradesh proposal would be examined in detail.

Meanwhile, ⁠Nara Lokesh met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai and discussed investment opportunities, Andhra Pradesh’s “Speed of Doing Business” model, education reforms, and skill development initiatives, while also exchanging traditional mementoes.