Telangana eyes data centre and AI campus; Airtel may shift HQ to Hyderabad
Synopsis
Telangana is in talks to host a major data centre and AI infrastructure campus, with Airtel potentially designating Hyderabad as its second headquarters. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's meeting with Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal on 30 June signals a strategic push that could reshape Hyderabad's standing in India's fast-growing digital infrastructure race.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy confirmed on 30 June that Telangana is exploring a large data centre and AI infrastructure campus .
Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal indicated Airtel is considering Hyderabad as its second headquarters .
The Chandanvelli data centre project was flagged for early launch during the meeting.
The Bharti Foundation announced scholarships for students in government schools and Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs) .
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also inaugurated an MRI machine at Government General Hospital, Bhupalpally and flagged off two ambulances via HDFC Bank CSR funds.
The CM called for greater bank lending to women's self-help groups supporting logistics parks, godowns, and rice mills.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, 30 June said the state government is actively exploring the establishment of a large-scale, comprehensive data centre and AI infrastructure campus in Telangana. The announcement came during a high-level meeting with Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal at the Bodhi Pavillion, MCRHRD Institute, Hyderabad.
Key Developments from the Mittal-Revanth Meeting
During the courtesy call, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy pushed for accelerated expansion of Airtel's digital, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI operations in Hyderabad. He specifically urged the early launch of the Chandanvelli data centre project and asked Mittal to designate a senior executive to coordinate directly with the Telangana government on investment opportunities.
According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Mittal indicated that the Bharti Group is considering making Hyderabad the second headquarters for Airtel — a significant signal for the city's ambitions as a technology and enterprise hub. Mittal also assured that the company would move to increase data centre capacity and expand fibre connectivity across the state.
Skilling and Education: What Revanth Pitched to Mittal
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy briefed Mittal on Telangana's ongoing reforms in the education and skilling ecosystem. These include the establishment of the Young India Skill University aimed at upskilling unemployed youth, the upgrade of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs), and improvements to polytechnic colleges across the state.
Responding to the briefing, Sunil Mittal announced that the Bharti Foundation would provide scholarships to students enrolled in government schools and ATCs — a commitment that directly ties corporate investment to ground-level human capital development in Telangana.
HDFC Bank CSR Event and Other Engagements
Separately on the same day, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurated development works funded through HDFC Bank CSR initiatives at another event held at the MCRHRD Institute. He flagged off two ambulances and virtually inaugurated an MRI machine at the Government General Hospital in Bhupalpally.
The event was attended by newly appointed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Rajya Sabha Member Vem Narendar Reddy, Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, CMO OSD Vemula Srinivasulu, Telangana State Trade Promotion Corporation (TSTPC) Chairman Aita Prakash Reddy, and senior HDFC Bank officials.
Push for Women's Self-Help Groups
At the HDFC event, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called on banks to liberally sanction loans to women's self-help groups (SHGs). He noted that the state government is establishing logistics parks, godowns, and rice mills in collaboration with SHGs, and stressed that substantial credit is needed to sustain these initiatives. He cited the strong loan-repayment record of women's groups as a basis for greater lending confidence.
What This Signals for Hyderabad's Tech Trajectory
This comes amid intensifying competition among Indian states to attract data centre and AI infrastructure investment, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka all aggressively courting hyperscalers and telecom majors. Telangana's pitch — combining a skilled talent pipeline, existing IT infrastructure in Hyderabad, and proactive policy engagement — positions it as a serious contender. Notably, if Airtel formalises Hyderabad as its second headquarters, it would mark one of the most consequential corporate relocations in the city's recent history. The state government is expected to follow up with formal investment proposals in the coming weeks.
Point of View
While Bharti is keeping its options open with a non-binding 'considering' on the second HQ. The real test is whether the Chandanvelli data centre actually breaks ground, since Hyderabad has a history of high-profile tech announcements that stall at the land-acquisition stage. More broadly, Telangana is playing a smart hand: linking corporate investment to scholarships and ATCs creates political optics while building the talent pipeline that would make a second HQ viable. But without a signed MoU or investment figure, this remains exploratory — and competing states will not wait.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What data centre and AI campus is Telangana planning?
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on 30 June that the state is exploring the establishment of a large, comprehensive data centre and AI infrastructure campus. Details including location, scale, and investment outlay are yet to be formally announced.
Is Airtel moving its headquarters to Hyderabad?
According to the Chief Minister's Office, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal indicated that Airtel is 'considering' Hyderabad as its second headquarters. No formal decision or announcement has been made yet.
What is the Chandanvelli data centre project?
The Chandanvelli data centre project is an existing Airtel initiative in Hyderabad that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged Mittal to launch at the earliest. Further operational details were not disclosed at the meeting.
What did the Bharti Foundation announce for Telangana students?
Sunil Mittal announced that the Bharti Foundation would provide scholarships to students studying in government schools and Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs) in Telangana, tying corporate engagement to the state's skilling agenda.
What other events did CM Revanth Reddy attend on 30 June?
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also inaugurated development works funded by HDFC Bank CSR, flagged off two ambulances, and virtually inaugurated an MRI machine at the Government General Hospital in Bhupalpally on the same day.
