Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran held a significant meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Monday, charting a comprehensive roadmap for long-term collaboration. The discussions spanned a wide array of sectors poised to transform the state's economic and technological landscape.
Blueprint for a Tech-Driven Uttar Pradesh
The centrepiece of the talks was a visionary proposal from the Tata Group to develop an 'AI City' in Lucknow. Chandrasekaran emphasized that this ambitious project would be instrumental in positioning Uttar Pradesh as a global nerve centre for artificial intelligence and fostering a robust startup ecosystem. This move aligns with broader plans to expand Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) units in Lucknow, Noida, and Varanasi. Both leaders agreed that a proposal to scale up the workforce in TCS's Lucknow and Noida units from 16,000 to 30,000 professionals would significantly bolster the state's digital talent reservoir.
Further strengthening the skill development framework, the progress of a Centre of Excellence in Gorakhpur was reviewed. This centre aims to provide advanced technical training to the youth of Purvanchal. Additionally, an MoU with IIT Kanpur was discussed, focusing on training youngsters in cutting-edge domains like AI, cybersecurity, data science, 3D printing, and drone & space technology. The establishment of a Global Capability Centre in the state was also on the agenda.
Boosting Manufacturing: Electronics, Defence, and Electric Vehicles
The Tata Group expressed strong interest in ramping up investments in manufacturing within the state. This includes the production of mobile devices, electronic components, and other high-tech products. Discussions referenced the group's recent MoU with Intel to strengthen the electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
In the defence sector, detailed talks were held regarding the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The Tata Group proposed enhancing its investments for manufacturing drones, missiles, and defence vehicles across various nodes in the state, including Jhansi.
Chandrasekaran also laid out the group's strategic roadmap for electric vehicles (EVs) in Uttar Pradesh. The plan involves not only expanding the manufacturing of electric buses and vehicles but also developing new EV models. "This will not only increase Tata Group's share in the EV sector but also create new employment opportunities in the state," he stated.
Powering UP's Growth: Energy and Renewable Projects
On the energy front, several key projects are underway. Tata Power is installing a new 1,900-megawatt thermal unit at the Bara plant in Prayagraj, which will also see three additional units of 360 MW capacity each. Committing to clean energy, the company is setting up two solar projects of 50 MW each in Prayagraj and Banda, alongside promoting solar rooftop projects across the state.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the Tata chairman of his government's commitment to providing investors with stable policies, transparent systems, and a favourable business environment. He expressed confidence that this multi-dimensional cooperation would elevate the state's economy, job creation, and technological self-reliance to unprecedented levels.
"This meeting will prove to be an important milestone in the direction of the resolve to make UP a USD 1 trillion economy," the Chief Minister affirmed, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership.
