Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Rs 169-crore data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute at Info Valley-II in Jatni, near Bhubaneswar, marking a significant addition to the country’s digital financial infrastructure.
The inauguration was attended by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra, Odisha governor Braj Mohan Ram, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram, and deputy chief ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida.
Spread across 18.55 acres, the RBI facility is designed to support the bank’s critical computing requirements and strengthen the security and reliability of India’s financial systems. The foundation stone was laid by then RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on March 22, 2023.
The data centre will host mission-critical payment and settlement systems, along with other flagship initiatives. It is expected to enhance the reach, efficiency and reliability of digital financial services by providing a secure and resilient technological foundation for the country’s expanding digital economy.
The accompanying Cybersecurity Training Institute will serve as a dedicated platform for training, research and capacity building in cybersecurity and enterprise technology. The institute is expected to strengthen technical capabilities and support the development of expertise across the financial sector.
The location was selected for its geographical stability, with its distance from seismically active zones and high-risk international border areas expected to reduce exposure to natural disasters and geopolitical vulnerabilities.
Modi arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 4.15 pm aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft. He then travelled by helicopter to Khordha before proceeding by road to the RBI facility in Jatni.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to spend about an hour at the facility before returning to the airport by road for his onward journey at around 6.30 pm.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place for the visit, with around 2,100 police personnel deployed. Traffic restrictions were also imposed from 5.40 pm to 6.40 pm along the route connecting the RBI data centre to the airport.
In a social media post, Majhi said the new facility would contribute to Odisha’s development. He also noted that Modi’s visit was his ninth to the state since the BJP government assumed office in 2024.
Majhi said the Jatni facility would be the second of its kind in the country after the RBI’s data centre in Navi Mumbai.
The facilities have been designed to provide a secure, scalable, resilient and future-ready computing ecosystem to meet the RBI’s requirements and support the broader financial sector.
