Lucknow Sets the Stage for India’s First AI City

 

Lucknow is gearing up for a technological leap as land has been earmarked for the development of an ambitious AI City, a project designed to position the Uttar Pradesh capital as a global hub for artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies.

Nearly a year after budgetary provisions were announced, the project has moved into a critical phase with land identification near the Defence Expo site. Planned as a public–private partnership (PPP), the AI City will be developed in two phases and is expected to be completed by 2025.

According to Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary (Planning), the project envisions a self-reliant and integrated technology ecosystem. “About 60% of the area will form the core zone, hosting AI innovation centres, technology parks and advanced research facilities. The remaining 40% will support residential, commercial and social infrastructure, creating a complete live-work environment,” he said.

The idea of an AI City gained momentum in December last year, when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, following which the state formally proposed the project as part of its broader push to transform Uttar Pradesh into a leading IT destination.

That vision was reinforced in July 2025, when the project received a massive ₹10,732-crore corpus, marking one of the largest technology-focused investments in the state. The AI City will feature state-of-the-art data centres, high-performance computing infrastructure, AI research labs, start-up incubation hubs, and modern office spaces aimed at attracting global technology companies.

Beyond infrastructure, the project is expected to significantly strengthen the start-up ecosystem and generate thousands of high-skilled jobs in emerging technologies. By offering world-class facilities at a single location, the AI City aims to help Indian and international companies accelerate innovation and scale faster.

With this initiative, Lucknow is not just redefining its urban landscape—it is positioning itself among the top 20 global AI hubs, signaling Uttar Pradesh’s arrival on the world’s technology map.

BY: Nirosha Gupta