Cognizant to launch ops in Visakha tomorrow
City to get major IT boost as Cognizant opens temporary campus ahead of Rs 1,583-cr facility
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Visakhapatnam: In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s technology and innovation ecosystem, global IT leader Cognizant is set to launch operations from its temporary campus in Visakhapatnam on December 12. The announcement marks a significant step in the city’s emergence as a tier-2 tech hub.
The temporary facility, located at a rented building in Rushikonda, will accommodate 800 associates until the first phase of Cognizant’s permanent 22-acre campus in Kapuluppada, IT Hills, is completed by early 2029. The permanent campus, with an investment ofRs1,583 crore, is expected to be developed in three phases, creating over 8,000 employment opportunities and enhancing Cognizant’s capabilities in AI and digital transformation globally.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh are scheduled to inaugurate the temporary campus and lay the foundation for the permanent facility. The government has allocated the land at a token payment of 99 paise per acre, a strategy aimed at attracting anchor players to strengthen the state’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
Local industry leaders welcomed the move. Murali Bulusu, Director of Dreamchip Electronics Pvt. Ltd., said, “Cognizant’s entry, along with TCS and other major IT players, will boost the digital economy and nurture technology skills among local youth. It has the potential to transform the regional IT landscape and drive economic growth.”
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is also investing in Visakhapatnam, refurbishing the Millennium Towers A and B for its operations. Together, Cognizant and TCS are expected to generate a workforce of around 20,000 in the coming years, with TCS investingRs1,370 crore. Other IT giants, including Accenture and Infosys, are exploring expansion in the city, signaling growing confidence in Andhra Pradesh’s talent pool and infrastructure.
Minister Nara Lokesh, currently visiting the United States, highlighted international collaboration and investment in the region. On X (formerly Twitter), he noted discussions with Google executives on accelerating their $15-billion AI Data Center project in Visakhapatnam and exploring opportunities in drone assembly and server manufacturing. Earlier, at the CII Partnership Summit, he reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming Visakhapatnam into a major technology and data hub.
