STT GDC presses for comprehensive review of draft data centre policy

STT GDC India has called for the upcoming draft national data centre policy to prioritize regulatory streamlining and centralization, arguing that fragmented and excessive compliance requirements remain the most significant barrier to growth, investment, and rapid expansion of data centre capacity in India. Company leadership flagged that data centre projects currently face more than a hundred regulatory steps, involving multiple ministries and state/local bodies for issues such as land acquisition, utilities access, power supply, fire safety, data protection, and environmental clearances. This redundancy causes delays, increases costs, and creates uncertainty for investors.

The firm recommends a “single-window clearance” mechanism—a centralized approval process that would supersede divergent state and municipal rules, simplify applications, and allow operators to quickly commence and scale operations. STT GDC India specifically seeks harmonized national standards for construction, green energy, and cybersecurity, enabling nationwide expansion without navigating region-specific hurdles. The goal is to attract higher investments, enable workforce hiring without red tape, and support rapid rollouts of AI and digital platforms that require robust, scalable data infrastructure.

STT GDC India has also suggested that the government create dedicated data centre economic zones, offer uniform incentives such as tax breaks, and introduce consistent guidelines for land and utility access. Such steps would transform India into a global data hub, helping meet explosive demand in AI, cloud, and networked digital services. The company’s proposals have found resonance among other industry leaders, with widespread feedback supporting the “ease of doing business” agenda as essential for India’s data economy ambitions.

CT Bureau