PM Modi hails AirTrunk’s Rs 3 lakh crore bet on India’s digital future

In a major endorsement of India's rapidly expanding digital economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed global data centre operator AirTrunk's plan to invest more than Rs 3 lakh crore (US$30 billion) in the country by 2030, calling it one of the largest proposed investments in India's digital infrastructure ecosystem.The ambitious investment programme, backed by global investment giants Blackstone and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), aims to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity across multiple states and Union Territories, significantly strengthening the country's cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The announcement comes at a time when India is emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies, driven by rising demand for data, rapid AI adoption and a strong policy push towards technological self-reliance.Welcoming the development, Modi said the country's digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum."AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs 3 lakh crore ($30 billion) in India and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity. This is among the largest proposed investments in the country's digital infrastructure ecosystem," the Prime Minister said in a post on X.PM noted that such large-scale investments would not only strengthen India's position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI but also create jobs, support domestic supply chains and accelerate innovation-led economic growth."It is clear that the future of the world's digital economy is increasingly being shaped in India," Modi said.

India’s digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum.

AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs. 3 lakh crore ($30 billion) in India, and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity. This is among the largest proposed investments in the country’s digital… pic.twitter.com/ZW82nneN5x

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2026

AirTrunk, one of the world's leading hyperscale data centre companies, said India would become a cornerstone of its global growth strategy and one of its most important long-term investment destinations.The company's investment plans gained momentum following its entry into India through the acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra in April 2026. The acquisition provided AirTrunk with an immediate development pipeline of 600 MW across key digital hubs including Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.
AirTrunk Founder and Chief Executive Officer Robin Khuda described India as one of the most attractive destinations globally for large-scale technology infrastructure investments.He said the country's proactive AI policies, abundant renewable energy resources and highly skilled workforce create a compelling environment for long-term growth."India is taking a top-down approach to AI with clear government-led initiatives, a world-class talent pool and massive availability of renewable energy," Khuda said.

AirTrunk Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Robin Khuda says, "The AI race isn't just about technology anymore, it's about infrastructure. India is putting itself in the conversation as one of the world's most attractive destinations for long-term digital infrastructure…

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2026

During his visit to India, Khuda held discussions with senior government leaders and ministers in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on accelerating investments in cloud and AI infrastructure. The talks focused on critical enablers including power availability, renewable energy integration, sustainable water resources, talent development, faster approvals and closer coordination between state and central governments.Industry observers view the proposed investment as a strong vote of confidence in India's digital transformation agenda, which has been supported by initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission.
As artificial intelligence applications expand globally and demand for cloud services surges, data centres are increasingly being viewed as strategic infrastructure, on par with highways, ports and power networks. Countries capable of building large-scale digital infrastructure are expected to attract greater investment, innovation and high-value employment in the years ahead.AirTrunk said its planned 5 GW expansion would generate substantial economic activity, creating thousands of jobs during both the construction and operational phases while boosting local supply chains and attracting additional investments from global cloud and AI companies.With one of the largest digital infrastructure investments ever proposed in India, the AirTrunk announcement underscores the country's growing importance in the global technology landscape and reinforces its ambitions to become a leading cloud computing and AI hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

(Business Correspondent)