Maharashtra Broadens Data‑Centre Policy, Rolls Out Fresh Incentives for New Hubs

In a move that could reshape India's cloud landscape, the Maharashtra government announced on Thursday that it is expanding the scope of its data‑centre policy. What started as a Mumbai‑centric incentive scheme in 2022 will now cover several tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, including Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik.

"We want to create a distributed ecosystem, not just a single hub," said state IT minister Rajesh Patil during a press conference. "By extending the benefits, we hope to tap into local talent pools, reduce latency for regional businesses, and, frankly, bring more investment to the state."

The refreshed policy packs a handful of new perks. First, companies setting up or expanding facilities in the newly added zones will enjoy a 10 % GST rebate on capital equipment for the first three years. Second, the electricity tariff for data‑centre operations has been slashed by up to 15 %, a relief that could translate into millions of rupees in savings for large‑scale players.

There’s also a capital subsidy of up to ₹5 crore for firms that meet certain sustainability benchmarks, such as using renewable energy sources for at least 40 % of their power consumption. The state will further streamline land acquisition, offering a one‑window clearance system to cut bureaucratic red‑tape.

Industry analysts see the move as a strategic counter to rival states like Karnataka and Gujarat, which have been courting the same cloud giants. "Maharashtra's early focus on Mumbai gave it a head start, but the market is maturing," notes tech consultant Anjali Mehta. "Diversifying locations while keeping incentives attractive makes sense both for the state and for operators looking to serve India's growing digital demand."

Already, several global players have expressed interest. A spokesperson for a leading US cloud provider hinted that they are evaluating sites in Pune and Nagpur, citing the new power discounts as a decisive factor.

While the policy aims to lure fresh investment, officials caution that the real test will be implementation. "We’ve drafted the incentives, now we must deliver on time and transparently," Patel added, promising quarterly progress reports to keep stakeholders in the loop.