Mangaluru flagged ‘India’s next major data-centre hub’ in feasibility study submitted to K’taka govt
Mangaluru: Karnataka’s digital-economy ambitions received a strong push this week after a detailed feasibility study identified Mangaluru as one of the country’s most promising emerging locations for large-scale data-centre development.
The report, titled Mangalore Today: India’s Next Potential Data Center Hub – A Feasibility Assessment, has been prepared jointly by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), the Silicon Beach Programme (SBP) and Deloitte. It was formally presented to IT Minister Priyank Kharge and Electronics, IT/BT and S&T Department Secretary Dr N. Manjula during a data-centre session at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
According to the report, the coastal belt is well positioned to support India’s expanding data-centre ecosystem. It highlights competitive land and power costs, a strengthening GCC presence, rising AI adoption, the potential for an undersea cable landing station and the scope for developing a future-ready 1-GW-plus data-centre cluster powered by green energy.
The national data-centre market is projected to reach USD 21.8 billion by 2030, and the study outlines how Karnataka can anchor this growth through a twin-hub strategy with Bengaluru as the primary hyperscale hub, supported by Mangaluru and Hubballi as regional nodes for edge infrastructure, low-latency computing and AI-driven capabilities. Within this framework, the report positions Mangaluru as one of the strongest upcoming destinations in India for the next phase of data-centre expansion.
The study notes that Mangaluru offers lower land and electricity costs compared with Mumbai and Chennai, a supportive coastal industrial ecosystem, a fast-growing digital talent base, a rising GCC footprint and increasing industry interest along the coastal corridor.
KDEM chairperson B.V. Naidu said the global shift towards AI, data dominance and cloud adoption demands robust and future-proof digital infrastructure. He pointed out that Mangaluru has the right mix of coastal advantage, competitive environment and a growing pool of talent and industry to play a leading role.
Silicon Beach Programme founding member Rohith Bhat described Mangaluru as standing at a turning point. As global digital systems move towards AI, hyperscale computing and high-performance connectivity, he said regions that combine talent with cost efficiency will shape the next decade of digital growth. The study, he added, shows a clear pathway for Mangaluru to evolve into a major data-centre zone with coordinated effort and timely support.
The report concludes that with sustained planning and execution, Mangaluru could emerge as India’s globally competitive “Silicon Beach” and generate thousands of jobs in the digital-economy sector.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
