West Bengal is stepping up its focus on artificial intelligence, data centres and global capability centres under its flagship silicon valley project, with investments of around ₹30,000 crore expected over time, IT secretary Shubhanjan Das said on Friday.
Addressing an ASSOCHAM-STPI event here, Das said the 250-acre silicon valley project was progressing at a “fantastic pace” and is likely to generate at least 7,500 jobs once operational.
“So far, 41 companies have already been allotted land, and physical inspections show construction is moving very fast, and we are expecting an investment of ₹30,000 crore,” he said, describing the project as a key component of the state’s long-term digital roadmap.
Das said West Bengal’s technology footprint has expanded beyond Kolkata, with emerging centres in Siliguri and Durgapur. He noted that the state currently has 32 government IT parks and more than 60 private IT parks, together housing over 2,800 IT and IT-enabled services companies.
Highlighting the state’s growing capabilities in advanced computing, the IT secretary said West Bengal now ranks sixth nationally in terms of data centre capacity, with 11 private data centres already operational.
He also referred to the state-run Siliguri data centre, which has high-end infrastructure including 40 H100 Nvidia GPU chips and around 40 L100 chips. In a move aimed at fostering innovation, Das said the state government is finalising a proposal to allow private companies to access this infrastructure for AI training and model development.
Also read: Is Tamil Nadu emerging as India's new Silicon Valley?
“We are open to ideas and collaboration, and you would be most welcome in the near future,” he told industry representatives at the event.
Das said the IT department would function as a single-window facilitator to address inter-departmental issues and ensure faster execution of projects. “Any expansion proposal will be welcomed, and we will hand-hold to make sure projects take off smoothly,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of diversity within the technology ecosystem, praising companies that employ women and the differently abled, which he said creates “very positive vibes” for the state’s industrial culture.
Speaking at the event, Sushil Mohta, chairman of World Trade Center (WTC), Salt Lake, said West Bengal is emerging as a favourable destination for global capability centres due to its academic institutions, talent pool and improving infrastructure.
“We need to market ourselves better and showcase our achievements to position the state as a GCC destination, particularly in Europe,” he said, adding that secure, smart and sustainable ecosystems are essential for long-term growth.
Mohta said WTC Salt Lake plays an important role in building a globally connected business ecosystem for technology companies, GCCs and startups.
At the event, STPI Kolkata honoured leading software exporters from the state across various categories. Tata Consultancy Services received the IT Ratna award for the highest software exports from West Bengal. The company currently employs around 54,000–55,000 people in the state.
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