According to the chief minister (CM), Uttar Pradesh (UP), the UP data centre cluster (UPDCC) will serve as the foundation for the state’s artificial intelligence (AI) mission. He said this during a high-level review meeting on the UPDCC programme, Project Ganga, and proposals related to mandi fee and cess exemptions for wheat processing.
The chief minister said the initiative could begin in the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) region, where large parcels of land are available.
Officials informed the meeting that the UPDCC initiative aims to position UP as the largest AI compute power centre in India and the global south. Under the programme, the state aims to support the creation of a $5 trillion economy, generate over 0.15 million direct jobs and build a 5 gigawatt (GW) AI compute corridor by 2040.
Senior officials highlighted UP’s key structural advantages, including its strategic geographical location, availability of large land parcels, sizeable youth population, rapidly expanding infrastructure and strong governance framework.
They added that the state’s inland location protects it from sea-related risks and cyclones, while infrastructure such as expressways, airports, logistics networks and power systems is expanding rapidly. Officials also pointed to the state’s technical talent base, supported by institutions including IIT Kanpur, NIT Prayagraj and more than 50 engineering colleges.
The meeting described UP as Asia’s most secure, scalable and connected inland AI territory. According to officials, nearly all major fibre networks in the country pass through Uttar Pradesh, and the state is connected to all of India’s submarine cable landing stations.
Further, the CM stressed the need for rapid expansion of the optical fibre network and transparency in implementation, while also calling for incentives to support digital entrepreneurs from the early stages.
