Google has broken ground on its $15 billion data center project in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh, India.

The cloud and search giant held a groundbreaking ceremony today, April 28, marking the beginning of work on the project.

The ceremony was jointly held by Google, AdaniConneX, and Nxtra by Airtel, and saw several key dignitaries attend.

The project will see Google establishing a gigawatt-scale "AI hub" in India comprising three campuses. AdaniConnex and Nxtra by Airtel will lead the construction of the data center buildings and connecting infrastructure.

Google officially acquired the land for the project at the start of April, having revealed plans for the campuses in October 2025. In December, Adani Group said it would invest up to $5bn in the campus.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in Tarluvada, one of the sites set aside for the campuses. Previous reports suggest that the data center projects will span 266.6 acres in Tarluvada, 160 acres in Adivivaram, and 174.8 acres in Rambilli-Achyutapuram.

Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said: “Today’s groundbreaking is a powerful realization of our shared vision with the Indian government, and an inflection point for the country’s AI-native future. Together, we are laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat and opening new doors for economic opportunity nationwide. The Google AI hub will serve as a catalyst for growth built on deep community partnerships.”

The data centers aim to be commissioned by July 2028 and will also see the installation and landing of three high-capacity submarine cables, dedicated cable landing stations, metro fiber lines, and other telecommunications infrastructure.

Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, added: “Andhra Pradesh is emerging as India’s premier investment destination, powered by speed, trust, and ease of doing business. Google’s AI hub in Visakhapatnam will be a cornerstone of our growing tech corridor, driving innovation, creating high-value opportunities for our youth, and strengthening our position in the global digital economy.

"Our vision goes beyond attracting investment – we want local talent, startups, and enterprises to become active partners in this technology-driven growth story. With the strong support of the Central Government and in line with the vision of a developed India, this partnership with Google reflects our commitment to combining cutting-edge innovation with inclusive growth, ensuring opportunities reach every community across Andhra Pradesh.”

Google Cloud already operates cloud regions in India, including one in Mumbai, launched back in 2017, and another in Delhi in 2021. It is also planning to launch a sovereign AI cloud with Airtel Business this year. In Q4 2025, the India portion of Google's Blue Raman subsea cable is expected to go live, landing in the western city of Mumbai.