Strategic Digital Expansion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a brief visit to Odisha on October 25 to inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) newly established data centre at Info Valley-II in Jatni, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 169 crore, the facility marks a significant milestone in bolstering India's financial technology and data security architecture.

According to the tentative itinerary shared by the Chief Secretary's office, the Prime Minister will arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport via a special Indian Air Force aircraft. He will subsequently take a helicopter to the Khurda helipad before proceeding by road to the RBI facility. Following an hour-long engagement at the data centre, he is scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar and depart the state by evening.

Reinforcing Financial Security

Spanning 18.55 acres, the Jatni facility is the second of its kind commissioned by the central bank, following a similar installation in Navi Mumbai. Officials note that the location was strategically selected for its geographical stability, minimizing exposure to seismic activity and geopolitical vulnerabilities.

The high-tech data centre is engineered to fortify data management, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and business continuity for critical national financial infrastructure. It will directly support core functions including currency management, payment and settlement systems, and regulatory operations.

Foundation work for the project began when then-RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das laid the cornerstone on March 22, 2023.

Political and Economic Significance

Highlighting the broader economic implications of the visit, state BJP vice-president Jatin Mohanty stated that the project reinforces Odisha's trajectory toward becoming a leading technology and electronics manufacturing hub.

"This will be the Prime Minister's ninth visit to Odisha following the formation of the BJP government in the state in 2024," Mohanty noted, adding that the initiative complements prior semiconductor allocations aimed at expanding the state's high-tech footprint.

State administration officials, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chief Secretary Anu Garg, have conducted high-level reviews to ensure comprehensive security and logistical preparedness ahead of the high-profile presidential-level visit.