ESR Invests Rs 900 Crore in Navi Mumbai's Data Centre Market
ESR, a real asset owner and manager focused on the Asia Pacific region, is making a strategic entry into India's data centre market. The company has announced plans to invest approximately ₹900 crore to develop a hyperscale, multi-storey data centre in Navi Mumbai's Rabale locality. This move underscores the growing importance of data centres in India, driven by rapid digital adoption, data localisation requirements, and the rise of cloud and AI workloads.
The new ESR Rabale MU1 Data Centre is already pre-leased to a major information and communications technology (ICT) company. The facility will be built on a 3.25-acre land parcel and is designed to have a facility load of up to 60 MW. This significant capacity will provide the necessary scalability to support the ongoing growth in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise workloads.
India is rapidly emerging as one of the most compelling data centre growth markets globally. The country's digital transformation, coupled with stringent data localisation requirements, is driving the demand for robust data infrastructure. Moreover, the government's investments in power grid transformation and the availability of renewable energy at competitive prices are further bolstering this growth. Stuart Gibson, co-founder and co-CEO of ESR, highlighted, 'India is one of the most compelling data centre growth markets globally, driven by rapid digital adoption, data localisation requirements, and the rise of cloud and AI workloads. The market is also supported by the country's continued investments in power grid transformation and the abundance of renewable energy available at competitive prices.'
This development marks a significant milestone in ESR's pan-APAC data centre pipeline, which exceeds 3 GW. It underscores the company's commitment to the long-term growth of the local economy. Abhijit Malkani, CEO-India at ESR, emphasized, 'ESR's entry into India's data centre sector is grounded in disciplined site selection, deep infrastructure readiness, and an execution-focused development approach. MU1 is a landmark project for us, combining scale, connectivity, and power security in one of Mumbai's most established data centre clusters.'
As digital demand continues to surge, ESR is well-positioned to build high-quality data centre hubs across the country. The company's APAC experience, strong capital partnerships, and integrated development platform are key assets in this endeavor. The ESR Rabale MU1 Data Centre, designed and developed by ESR, will be delivered as a powered shell facility located within the Airoli-Rabale data centre cluster. This cluster is a key availability zone for Mumbai's cloud region, strategically positioned along major enterprise and technology corridors that support India's expanding digital economy.
The project is expected to enhance the region's data infrastructure, attract more technological investments, and contribute to the broader digital transformation of the country. ESR's investment in Navi Mumbai is a clear indication of the company's confidence in India's data centre market and its potential for sustained growth in the coming years.
