Telecom giant Airtel has announced plans to build its first data centre in India’s eastern zone in the state of Tripura as part of a broader effort to bolster the region’s digital infrastructure. The announcement came from Chief Minister Manik Saha on Engineers’ Day in Agartala where he said land has already been allotted by the state government and a memorandum of understanding has been signed.
Tripura is currently the only Indian state where e-office systems have been implemented from the Civil Secretariat to the three-tier panchayat level. The Chief Minister emphasised that the data centre project will support this digital administration as well as enhance the state’s capacity in information technology, artificial intelligence and airtel 5G connectivity.
The data centre is expected to serve the eastern zone and will likely catalyse further investment in the region’s IT sector. Officials believe that improved digital infrastructure will boost efficiency in governance, provide new employment opportunities locally and attract related industries. Alongside the data centre initiative, Tripura has made strides in infrastructure development including national highways and stronger broadband and connectivity networks.
Airtel’s move is being seen as a strategic step in closing the digital divide between India’s more developed western and southern regions and its northeast and eastern states. For Tripura these developments signal a turning point in its trajectory toward becoming a technology growth node.