Yogi Adityanath Lays Foundation for CEL-ESDS Green Data Centre

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation of the CEL-ESDS Green Data Centre with a 30 MW capacity on Thursday. The project, entailing an investment of about Rs 1,000 crore, marks a significant step in the state's technological advancement.

Adityanath was accompanied by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh, State IT Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma, and State Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun at the foundation-laying ceremony on the premises of Central Electronics Ltd (CEL).

"I congratulate CEL for their glorious journey of 50 years," Adityanath said, highlighting the company's resilience and growth. He added that there was a time when the future of CEL was uncertain, but now this mini-Ratna is ready to realize the dream of Viksit Bharat (developed India).

The Chief Minister emphasized that CEL is setting up the first-of-its-kind data centre in India, reflecting the company's potential and commitment to technological innovation.

An official at the event stated that the data centre will require a cumulative investment of about Rs 1,000 crore, to be made by the Centre of Electronics and IPO-bound ESDS. The data centre is designed to be a tier 3 grade uptime compliant facility located in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh. It is designed for 200 high-density racks per floor, 30 MW capacity, and 40 Gbps connectivity.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the dedicated leadership at CEL for saving the institution from disinvestment. He recalled the company's history, noting that it produced solar cells in 1977 when the technology was not widely understood in India. "There was no awareness about solar cells at that time," he said.

Singh stressed the importance of engaging with the private sector to achieve the vision of a developed India. "Today we are seeing the way CEL has partnered with the private sector to set up the data centre," he added.

The data centre is designed for an uptime of 99.982 per cent, which translates to roughly 1.6 hours of downtime per year. Tier 3 data centres can be updated without taking systems offline, ensuring continuous operation and reliability.

This development underscores the commitment of both the state and central governments to fostering a robust technological infrastructure, supporting economic growth, and positioning Uttar Pradesh as a leader in the digital landscape.