Uttar Pradesh has started work on an ambitious plan to build India’s first Data Corridor. The state government wants to strengthen digital infrastructure and make UP a major hub for data storage and processing.
The government has selected the US-based Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to prepare a detailed roadmap for the project. BCG will complete the study within six months. After that, the government will begin the first phase by setting up data clusters with a combined capacity of 6 gigawatts (GW).
The State Transformation Commission will oversee the development of the corridor. According to the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Kumar Singh, BCG has already received the responsibility to prepare the roadmap.
BCG to Study Land, Water and Power
Each gigawatt of data centre capacity will require an investment of around ₹1 lakh crore.
Before finalising locations, BCG will study soil conditions, water availability and power supply across different parts of UP. Data centres need uninterrupted electricity round the clock and a large quantity of water for cooling. Finding locations that meet these requirements remains one of the biggest challenges.
UP Wants a Bigger Share in India’s Data Economy
The world currently has about 120 GW of data centre capacity. The United States leads with nearly 50 GW, followed by China with 25 GW and Europe with 14 GW.
India currently has around 1.7 GW of operational data centre capacity, while another 1.8 GW is under construction.
UP now has data centres with a combined capacity of 350 megawatts (MW). Work on four more data centres will begin soon. The state accounts for nearly 20% of India’s total data demand, making it an important market for future expansion.
Why Soil Testing Matters
Before building a data centre, engineers examine whether the land can safely support heavy buildings, server racks and other equipment. They collect soil samples from a depth of 10 to 15 metres and test the land’s load-bearing capacity.
The study also checks groundwater levels, the risk of land subsidence and earthquake safety.
Data centres contain large servers, cooling systems and electrical equipment that generate significant heat. A 1 MW data centre requires about 1 MW of electricity to operate. It also needs a large amount of water to cool servers, CPUs and networking equipment, making a reliable water and power supply essential for long-term operations.
