Google’s $15B AI Hub Set to Transform Visakhapatnam into Global Tech Gateway
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that Google, which began as a search engine company, is set to become a major driver of India’s economic growth with its upcoming AI and cloud data centre in Visakhapatnam.
Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI hub at Thurluvada in Visakhapatnam, describing April 28, 2026, as a “historic day” for India’s digital transformation. The project, estimated at $15 billion, is expected to be operational by September 2028.
The project is being developed in partnership with AdaniConneX and Airtel Nxtra and will house a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Google Cloud Vice President Bikash Koley, Bharti Airtel Vice Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal, US Consul General in Hyderabad Laura Williams, and Jeet Adani of the Adani Group were among those present at the ceremony.
Naidu said the project would transform Visakhapatnam into a global digital gateway and compared its potential impact to the emergence of Cyberabad in the past three decades. “Visakhapatnam will become a destination for global talent. This will be a game changer for Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
He added that the AI facility would also assist governance by functioning as an additional advisory system to the Chief Minister’s Office. “It will act like an AI secretary, helping speed up governance,” he said.
Highlighting employment potential, the Chief Minister said the project would create large-scale job opportunities and lead to reverse migration into Visakhapatnam.
Naidu credited IT Minister Nara Lokesh for initiating discussions that brought the project to Andhra Pradesh. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended full support when the proposal was taken up at the national level.
“When Google planned to set up its AI data centre in India, the Prime Minister assured complete support. With Lokesh’s initiative and the Centre’s backing, this has become a reality,” he said.
The Chief Minister assured infrastructure readiness for the project, stating that water requirements would be met. “Godavari water will be brought to Visakhapatnam within 60 days,” he said.
Naidu also outlined other major developments in the region, including the Bhogapuram International Airport scheduled for inauguration in July, steel exports from the ArcelorMittal plant by 2028, and solar wafer production by ReNew Power.
He said Anakapalli district would emerge as a major industrial hub, comparable to Rangareddy in Telangana, and added that Andhra Pradesh currently accounts for 25 per cent of all investments coming into the state.
“AP is number one in MoUs and in the grounding of projects,” he said.
Naidu further reiterated that the Polavaram project would be completed by 2027 and dedicated to the nation.
Senior Union ministers, state ministers, public representatives, and officials attended the programme.