Data centres, GCC policy to power Telangana’s next IT growth phase: Sridhar Babu | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana is betting on data centres, global capability centres (GCCs) and the expansion of IT infrastructure into tier-2 cities to drive its next phase of economic growth and job creation, IT and industries minister D Sridhar Babu told the assembly on Friday.The govt is preparing a dedicated GCC policy, expanding digital infrastructure beyond Hyderabad, and pursuing a targeted investment strategy aimed at generating more employment opportunities for the state’s youth, he said.Replying during question hour on data centres, employment generation and investments, Sridhar Babu said the govt would ensure uninterrupted power supply to households, industries and the agriculture sector while also meeting the growing requirements of data centres.He said data centres were critical to building a robust ecosystem for IT and technology companies and therefore remained a focus area for the govt. Additional power requirements of data centres would be met without affecting local consumption needs. The minister said proposals for setting up data centres were also being explored in locations such as Godavarikhani.Sridhar Babu announced that the govt would soon unveil a dedicated policy for GCCs, which is currently in the drafting stage. He said Hyderabad had attracted more than 75 GCCs over the last two years, a record for any city in the country, and added that nearly one lakh youth had secured employment opportunities during the same period.On the expansion of IT infrastructure beyond Hyderabad, the minister said the govt had undertaken a review of IT towers and hubs established during the previous BRS regime. “If anchor partners or industry partners come forward, the state govt is ready to develop new IT hubs/towers in the state,” he said.Looking ahead, the minister said the govt would intensify efforts to attract investments to emerging IT hubs across the state. Special initiatives are being taken to facilitate leading companies, including Cognizant, Capgemini, Wipro, Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, Accenture, TCS, Oracle, Infosys and HCL, to establish operations at the Nizamabad IT hub and tower, helping create a wider technology footprint beyond Hyderabad.To reduce pressure on Hyderabad and promote balanced regional development, the govt is encouraging the growth of the IT sector in tier-2 cities, including Nalgonda, Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, and Karimnagar. The minister said the IT hub and tower in Adilabad would be formally inaugurated soon.Acknowledging the global slowdown in hiring across the IT sector, the minister said Telangana had nevertheless created nearly one lakh jobs over the past two years. On investment promotion, Sridhar Babu said the Congress govt is aggressively marketing Telangana through initiatives such as the Telangana Rising Global Summit, BioAsia, national and international roadshows and sector-specific conclaves.“During the last two years (2025 and 2026), the state govt has signed a total of 108 MoUs with entrepreneurs and companies for investments in Telangana. Of the 75 MoUs signed at the previous Telangana Rising Global Summit, 23% (17 projects) have already commenced operations, while the remaining projects are at various stages of implementation. Of the MoUs signed during the Davos visits over the past two years, nearly 45% have already been grounded,” he said.Addressing infrastructure development, Sridhar Babu criticised the Centre for not extending support to the Regional Ring Road project.