MUMBAI: Several data centres have been planned in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Fresh allotment data from the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) points to a cumulative investment commitment of over Rs 1.43 lakh crore, one of the highest in recent years. Several chemical engineering firms and banks have also submitted plans to set up their data storage centres in the region. The pattern is not incidental, said MIDC officers. Industry watchers said the clustering of investments reflects a mix of geographic advantage and evolving demand drivers. “Proximity to ports continues to be a decisive factor, particularly for chemical engineering units that rely on bulk imports of raw materials and efficient export channels. Coastal access reduces logistics costs and turnaround time, an edge that inland regions struggle to match,” said MIDC deputy CEO Dhananjay Sawalkar.Equally significant is the surge in data centre demand. Additional Talaja will see large data centres, said Sawalkar. “Its strategic position as a landing point for undersea cables has made it a natural hub for digital infrastructure. With global internet traffic flowing through these nodes, latency advantages and network reliability have drawn hyperscalers and large enterprises alike. Add to that the steady demand from corporate and banking sectors, both of which require high-security, high-uptime data environments,” he added.The allotment figures underline the scale: 608 acres of land have been allocated across 83 plots in Konkan, translating into investments of Rs 1,43,587 crore and projected employment generation of nearly 25,000 jobs. MIDC officials said, there is a huge population of skilled human resources too. “The region has an established industrial ecosystem and access to a trained workforce, spanning engineering, IT, and operations, providing companies with a ready talent pool, reducing ramp-up timelines.“
