India’s journey toward becoming a global powerhouse for digital infrastructure has just received a monumental boost. Sydney-headquartered data center operator AirTrunk, backed by global investors Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), has announced a massive investment of over ₹3 lakh crore (approximately $30 billion) in India by 2030.
This historic capital infusion aims to develop more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of digital infrastructure and data center capacity across multiple states, marking one of the largest proposed investments in India’s digital ecosystem to date.
Prime Minister Modi Welcomes the Mega Investment
The announcement was enthusiastically received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the transformative nature of this development.
“India’s digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum,” the Prime Minister stated. “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.”
He further emphasized the broader economic impact, adding, “Such investments will strengthen India’s position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI, while generating employment opportunities, supporting local supply chains and accelerating innovation-led growth. It is clear that the future of the world’s digital economy is increasingly being shaped in India!”
Strategic Expansion Amid the AI Boom
AirTrunk’s massive $30 billion commitment comes shortly after the company officially entered the Indian market in April 2026 through the acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra. That strategic acquisition immediately provided AirTrunk with an initial development pipeline of 600 megawatts (MW) distributed across key tech hubs: Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
With the rapid global acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, AirTrunk’s founder and CEO, Robin Khuda, recently completed high-level engagements with central government representatives and state ministers in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Discussions focused on securing reliable, cost-effective renewable energy, sustainable water supplies, and streamlined regulatory approvals.
“Capital is mobile, and India is creating the conditions for it to thrive,” said Robin Khuda. “Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India’s digital economy has helped create one of the world’s most compelling destinations for technology investment. India has the scale, talent, and ambition required to become a global AI powerhouse.”
Economic Impact and Job Creation
Building 5 GW of data center capacity by 2030 is expected to have a profound ripple effect on the Indian economy. According to AirTrunk, the development, construction, and operational phases of these mega-projects will support tens of thousands of local jobs.
Furthermore, the scale of this infrastructure will inherently attract deeper investments from global cloud and AI enterprises, driving long-term productivity and heavily relying on localized supply chains. Supported by national initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission, this ₹3 lakh crore investment definitively signals that India is ready to host the infrastructure of the future.