Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government is set to build a new state data centre to secure the rapidly growing volume of government data and support the expansion of digital services. The proposed facility will have a capacity of six megawatts. The government has released ₹51 crore for the project, while the search for suitable land has begun. The IT and Electronics Department has surveyed three locations, of which its vacant land in Nadarganj is currently considered a suitable option. A proposal has been prepared to use a portion of the land for the data centre, and a land-transfer proposal may soon be placed before the Cabinet.
The volume of government data is increasing rapidly as the scope of digital services continues to expand. Almost all major government services in the state are now being delivered through digital platforms. More than two dozen portals linked to departmental websites and various online services are currently operational. These portals generate and store citizen-service information, departmental records and important documents. Ensuring the secure storage and long-term availability of such data has therefore become an important requirement for the state government.
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At present, a data centre with a capacity of around one megawatt is operational at Yojana Bhawan. According to the department, the existing facility is no longer sufficient for the government’s growing requirements. Its capacity is also not considered expandable. In view of these limitations, the government has prepared a proposal for a separate, higher-capacity state data centre.
Officials said the expansion of digital government services has resulted in data being generated at the terabyte and petabyte levels across the state. This includes departmental records, information related to online services, data generated through various portals and records associated with recruitment processes. Data related to recruitment commissions also needs to be preserved securely for long periods. With digital services expected to expand further, the volume of government data is likely to increase, prompting the need for a facility with substantially higher capacity than the existing centre.
The proposed data centre will have a capacity of up to six megawatts. It is planned to be developed with sufficient storage and technical capabilities to meet the state’s growing digital requirements in the future. The objective is not limited to storing government data but also includes strengthening the security of critical information and ensuring continuity of digital services. The detailed technical architecture, construction timeline and operational arrangements will be finalised as the project progresses.
The department has inspected three sites for the proposed facility. The vacant land belonging to the IT and Electronics Department in Nadarganj is currently being considered a suitable option. A proposal has been prepared to use a portion of this land for the data centre. Since the land is already available with the department, the process related to site allocation is expected to be relatively straightforward. Once the land-transfer proposal is finalised, it may be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
IT and Electronics Department Principal Secretary Alok Kumar said that a new data centre with high technical capacity is planned. He said three locations had been examined for the project and that vacant departmental land was available in Nadarganj. A proposal has been prepared to construct the facility on a portion of the land. The architect firm for the project has also been selected.
The new project is expected to add capacity to the state’s digital infrastructure as government services increasingly move online. The growing use of servers, storage systems and digital platforms has also increased the need for secure and reliable data infrastructure. Once the six-megawatt facility becomes operational, it will provide additional capacity for data generated by government departments and digital services. It is also expected to reduce the pressure on the existing data centre, whose current capacity is limited to around one megawatt.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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