India is set to establish its first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with a significant investment of ₹1,000 crore. This initiative marks a pivotal step in positioning India as a global leader in AI infrastructure and services.
🚀 India’s First AI SEZ in Nava Raipur: A ₹1,000 Crore Leap into the Future
🏗️ Project Overview
RackBank Data Centers Pvt Ltd is spearheading the development of this groundbreaking AI-centric SEZ in Nava Raipur. The project encompasses a 1.5 lakh square feet data center equipped with high-performance computing systems designed for advanced AI technologies. Spanning six acres, the facility will house four high-density data centers serving multiple states, aiming to transform the region into a digital and technological hub.
🌐 Strategic Importance
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has lauded the project as a transformative step for Chhattisgarh, aligning with national initiatives like Digital India and Make in India. The SEZ is expected to generate significant employment opportunities in IT and AI fields, with plans to collaborate with local technical institutes to provide specialized training programs.
🤝 Collaboration with Global Tech Giants
The SEZ aspires to attract global tech companies such as Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta to host their services from India. This move aims to shift India’s role from being a consumer to a producer and host of AI services, enhancing the country’s position in the global AI landscape.
📈 Economic and Social Impact
Beyond technological advancements, the initiative promises socio-economic benefits by offering opportunities to students from remote and tribal backgrounds, thereby promoting inclusive growth. The project is expected to create numerous job opportunities in IT, data science, cybersecurity, and network management, contributing to the state’s economic development.
🏙️ Nava Raipur: Emerging as a Technological Hub
Nava Raipur, officially known as Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur, is a planned city in Chhattisgarh, envisioned to replace Raipur as the state capital. The city is strategically located between National Highway 53 and National Highway 30, about 17 km southeast of Raipur, and is separated from it by the Swami Vivekananda Airport.
The establishment of the AI SEZ is part of a broader vision to develop Nava Raipur into a major IT and technological hub. The state government has introduced attractive provisions for investments in emerging industries such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computing, and Green Hydrogen. Several IT companies have already started operations in the area, and a new data center in Nava Raipur further bolsters the city’s transformation into an IT hub. The Times of India
