CM Yogi Meets Heads of TATA Sons and Sify Technologies, Signaling a Business-Friendly Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: December has brought a fresh start for the industrial landscape of Uttar Pradesh, as top leaders from two major Indian industrial groups—TATA Sons and Sify Technologies—met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the state capital, signaling increased investment in the region.

TATA Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran met the CM on 15 December, followed by Sify Technologies Chairman and Managing Director Raju Vegesna on 23 December. During separate meetings, both groups presented updates on ongoing projects, past investments, and future expansion plans in Uttar Pradesh.

TATA Group’s Expanding Investment in UP
The TATA Group proposed the development of a state-of-the-art ‘AI City’ in Lucknow, aiming to position Uttar Pradesh as a global hub for artificial intelligence. Discussions also included increasing the workforce in TCS units in Lucknow and Noida from 16,000 to 30,000 employees.

Additionally, TATA plans to develop 30 new hotels under its Taj, Vivanta, and SeleQtions brands in the state, boosting both tourism and employment. The meetings also covered progress in defense manufacturing, semiconductors, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and the ‘Museum of Temple’ project in Ayodhya.

In the energy sector, TATA Power operates a 1,900 MW unit at the Bara Thermal Plant in Prayagraj and is developing 50 MW solar projects in both Bundelkhand and Prayagraj. A Center of Excellence is being established in Gorakhpur, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, at a cost of ₹48 crore, to train youth in AI, drones, and 3D printing technologies.

Sify’s Growing Technology Investments in UP
Raju Vegesna informed the Chief Minister that Sify Technologies has invested over ₹12,000 crore in setting up advanced data centers in Lucknow and Noida over the past five years, with plans to double this investment in the next three years.

Sify’s AI Edge Data Center in Lucknow is expected to be fully operational soon, while plans for a large hyperscale AI campus are underway. In Noida, the company operates ‘Noida-02,’ North India’s largest AI data center campus, with an additional AI campus planned. Their first green hyperscale data center, ‘Noida-01,’ currently serves over 100 enterprise, government, and hyperscale clients. In the future, AI clusters in Lucknow and Noida will be integrated with Sify’s national fiber network.

Experts See a Positive Shift in Business Climate
Experts note that Uttar Pradesh has become more attractive for business and investment during Yogi Adityanath’s tenure. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Tiwari, Professor at the Atal School of Management, Jawaharlal Nehru University, emphasizes that development begins with trust—whether in citizen safety or policy stability for investors.

He highlights that reliable policing reduces risk and attracts capital, and that the proposed TATA AI center in Lucknow will strengthen the state’s technological and industrial profile, creating high-skilled jobs, startups, and research opportunities.

Past Industrial Experiences Under SP Government
Historical industrial experiences underscore this shift. TATA Motors established a plant in Lucknow in 1992 under the BJP government. During the Samajwadi Party government in 2006, promises for plant expansion incentives were not honored, and again in 2012, commitments remained unfulfilled, prompting TATA Motors to shift a major portion of its production to Uttarakhand. The industry cites these past instances as examples of policy instability, contrasting with the current business-friendly environment.