Tata Group proposes ‘AI City’ in Lucknow after chairman N Chandrasekaran meets CM Yogi

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, during which he proposed an ‘AI City’ within Lucknow. The two held wide-ranging discussions on the progress, expansion and proposed new investments of Tata Group projects in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting saw a broad consensus on long-term collaboration across sectors including artificial intelligence, IT, electronics, defence manufacturing, energy, renewable energy, electric vehicles, tourism, skill development and the digital economy.

During the interaction, the Tata Sons Chairman proposed the development of an ‘AI City’ in the state capital, Lucknow, a statement from the government read. The project is expected to play a key role in positioning Uttar Pradesh as a global hub for artificial intelligence. The proposed AI City would strengthen the startup ecosystem in the state and generate thousands of new jobs linked to future technologies.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the Rs 48-crore Centre of Excellence being set up in Gorakhpur, which is aimed at providing advanced technical training and opportunities, particularly for youth from eastern Uttar Pradesh. Chandrasekaran informed the Chief Minister that, under an MoU with IIT Kanpur, young professionals would be trained in areas such as AI, cyber security, data science, 3D printing, drones and space technology, supporting skill development and the creation of an industry-ready workforce.

The possibility of setting up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Uttar Pradesh also came up for discussion, along with plans to expand Tata Consultancy Services’ units in Lucknow, Noida and Varanasi. A proposal to increase the workforce at the Lucknow and Noida TCS facilities from 16,000 to 30,000 is expected to strengthen the state’s digital talent pool.