Advanced Interconnectivity and Scalable Bandwidth Will Benefit Governance: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Inauguration of Equinix MB3 Data Centre

Mumbai, April 2026 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that advanced interconnectivity and the ability to instantly scale bandwidth at data centres will prove highly beneficial for governance, especially in the implementation of digital government services.

He noted that bandwidth limitations have often posed a major challenge during the online execution of various government schemes. In particular, when online application systems were launched for farmers, sudden surges in internet traffic created the risk of system failures. In such scenarios, the enhanced interconnectivity and on-demand bandwidth expansion capabilities offered by modern data centres will significantly strengthen the government’s digital infrastructure.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the MB3 data centre of Equinix, held at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai. The event was attended by Principal Secretary of the Industries Department P. Anbalagan, Chief Economic Advisor Kaustubh Dhavse, APAC President Cyrus Adaggra, India Managing Director Manoj Paul, Vice President (Growth and Emerging Markets) Max Parry, Senior Director (IBX) Ganesh Pawar, and Director (Public Policy and Governance) Elizabeth Hernandez, among others.

Equinix MB3 Data Centre

Equinix is one of the world’s largest providers of data centre and interconnection services, with a network of over 280 data centres across 77 metropolitan areas in 36 countries. The MB3 facility in India is the company’s first fully owned and newly developed data centre in the country.

The project has been developed on approximately 3.7 acres of land, with a total investment of around 750 million US dollars (approximately ₹6,000 crore). Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to support more than 4,200 cabinets.

The MB3 data centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology and is designed to support artificial intelligence (AI)-based services. It also offers hybrid multi-cloud interconnection capabilities, enabling seamless connectivity with Equinix’s global data centres as well as over 11,000 customers worldwide.

From a sustainability perspective, a significant portion of the energy required for the data centre is being sourced from a 26.6 MW solar power project set up in Yavatmal. Currently, nearly 60 per cent of the energy consumed by Equinix’s data centres in Mumbai is being supplied through this renewable energy initiative.

The Chief Minister emphasized that such technologically advanced and energy-efficient infrastructure will play a crucial role in strengthening Maharashtra’s digital ecosystem while ensuring reliable and scalable services for citizens.