Bengal explores data centres across 18 WBIDC industrial parks

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Mon, Sep 14, 02:35 AM IST • 2 min read

West Bengal is exploring the possibility of using unused land across 18 WBIDC industrial parks to attract investments in data centres, as the state looks to make better use of existing industrial infrastructure and revive industrial growth.

The proposal is part of a broader push to attract investment into newer and technology-driven sectors, including data centres, semiconductors and renewable energy. Instead of relying entirely on developing new industrial land, the state is examining how underutilised land within existing industrial parks can support emerging industries.

Data centre opportunity grows

The timing is significant as India’s data centre industry is entering a major expansion phase. The country’s data centre capacity is projected to increase from around 1.6 GW in mid-2026 to nearly 6 GW by 2029, driven by growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital services and enterprise data storage.

At present, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh account for around 75% of India’s data centre capacity. West Bengal remains a relatively smaller player in the sector, making the proposed use of industrial park land an opportunity to attract a larger share of future investments.

Making better use of industrial land

The availability of unused land within existing WBIDC industrial parks could give Bengal an opportunity to position itself as a destination for digital infrastructure while making productive use of assets that are currently underutilised.

Data centres also require reliable power, connectivity, industrial infrastructure and access to a skilled workforce. Developing suitable industrial locations for such projects could therefore create opportunities across supporting areas such as telecom, power, construction, engineering, IT services and facility management.

For West Bengal, the proposal represents a potential shift in how existing industrial assets can be used to support the next generation of investment.

If approved and successfully implemented, the initiative could help Bengal attract data centre operators and technology infrastructure companies while strengthening the state’s role in India’s rapidly expanding digital economy.