CM Naidu, Minister Lokesh break ground on Cognizant’s 8,000-seater campus in Visakhapatnam IT giant's interim techfin centre with capacity for 1,000 associates launched

In a shot in the arm to strengthen its presence in tier-2 cities, Cognizant, a global leader in technology and professional services, on Friday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art 8,000-seat facility and unveiled an interim techfin centre here, in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The new campus, which will be completed in three phases by 2033, will entail an investment of ₹1600 crore (₹16 billion) and generate over 20,000 jobs. IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh attended both the functions and formally inaugurated 1,000 seater interim techfin centre at Rushikonda.

The first phase of the construction of the permanent campus, which will begin in 2026, will accommodate 3,000 associates upon its completion in early 2029. The subsequent phases will increase the total seating capacity to 8,000.

“We are delighted to welcome Cognizant to Visakhapatnam. This facility is a landmark step in advancing our vision of transforming Andhra Pradesh into a world-class destination where global enterprises can build, innovate, and grow,” said Naidu. He said Visakhapatnam will be developed as a world-class future knowledge and technology hub, and described Visakhapatnam as a beautiful city with 20% less cost of living compared to other big cities and hoped that Cognizant will increase its workforce to 25,000 soon.

“This investment will generate 20,000 high-quality jobs, enhance the region’s digital capabilities, and contribute significantly to the State’s innovation-driven and technology-enabled growth,” the Chief Minister added.

Lokesh, commenting on the development, said “Cognizant’s presence marks a pivotal milestone in Visakhapatnam’s emergence as a thriving hub for technology. I am delighted that this development centre will unlock new opportunities for our youth and further strengthen the city’s position as the economic and financial hub of the State.”

Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S said: “Today marks a defining step in Cognizant’s growth journey in India. The groundbreaking of our new campus and the opening of an interim techfin centre in Visakhapatnam reflect our confidence in the city’s talent and future potential.”

“We are grateful to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their partnership and look forward to unlocking the full potential of Visakhapatnam’s talent and innovation spirit,” he stated.

The techfin centre located at a rented building at Rushikonda will serve as an interim office until the completion of the first phase of the proposed 22-acre campus.

It will focus on advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital engineering, and cloud solutions.

The centre features a dedicated client experience zone and collaborative spaces designed to foster teamwork and accommodate more than 1,000 associates based in and around Visakhapatnam.

Since 2024, Cognizant has established new delivery centres in Bhubaneswar, Indore, and a techfin centre in GIFT City, Gujarat. These centres are designed to support the future of work, promote agility, skilling, collaboration, and innovation, while providing a best-in-class employee experience, a company spokesperson said.

India remains central to Cognizant’s global delivery capabilities, with more than 70% of its 349,800 associates based in the country. Visakhapatnam expansion builds on Cognizant’s strong operational presence across Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi-NCR, GIFT City, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mangaluru, Mumbai, and Pune.