2 weeks ago
Anant Raj, Lodha Tap Data Centre Boom as Growth Engine
Real estate companies usually build homes and offices.
But two big Indian companies, Anant Raj and Lodha Developers, are building special buildings called data centres.
Data centres are like giant libraries for computers, where internet services and apps store their information.
India needs more of these buildings because lots more people are using the internet and artificial intelligence.
Anant Raj is building its own data centres and even a cloud service for the government.
Lodha is turning land it owns into a big data centre park in Navi Mumbai, where other companies pay rent to use it.
India is expected to have much more data centre space in the next few years.
Both companies are earning more money and getting more value from their land by doing this.
It is like turning an empty field into a very busy, useful building.
India's operational data centre capacity stood at around 1,030 MW in 2024 and is expected to reach 1,825 MW by 2027, with 2030 estimates ranging from 4,500 MW to 5-8 GW.
Anant Raj plans to scale its data centre IT load to 357 MW by FY32 across Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, and is demerging the business into a listed entity called Ashok Cloud.
Anant Raj's Q1FY27 revenue from data centres, infrastructure and allied services was ₹90 crore, while total revenue grew 6.6% to ₹631.4 crore and net profit rose 18.5% to ₹149 crore.
Lodha Developers is scaling its ~660-acre green data centre park in Navi Mumbai to 1 GW of powered shell capacity, projected to generate over ₹2,000 crore of annual rental income by FY32.
Lodha's Q1FY27 revenue grew 43.1% to ₹5,000 crore and net profit surged 103.3% to ₹1,373 crore, driven partly by land monetisation including the Digital Edge transaction at ₹42.5 crore per acre.
- Who
- Anant Raj and Lodha Developers, two Indian real estate companies expanding into data centres.
- What
- Using India's data centre boom as a growth engine — Anant Raj building its own data centre and cloud/AI services business and Lodha developing and leasing a green data centre park.
- Where
- India — Haryana (Manesar, Panchkula, Rai, Sonepat) and Andhra Pradesh for Anant Raj, and Navi Mumbai for Lodha; key hubs include Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi NCR.
- When
- Quarterly results reported for Q1FY27 (April-June 2026), with capacity projections through FY27, FY32 and 2030; peer comparison data as of 12 August 2026.
- Why
- To generate more value from existing land and real estate assets as demand for data centres, cloud services and AI infrastructure rises.
Key facts
- India data centre capacity (2024)
- ~1,030 MW
- India projected capacity (2027)
- 1,825 MW
- India projected capacity (2030)
- 4,500 MW to 5-8 GW
- Anant Raj planned IT load by FY32
- 357 MW across Haryana and Andhra Pradesh
- Anant Raj Q1FY27 net profit
- ₹149 crore (up 18.5%)
- Lodha data centre park
- ~660 acres in Navi Mumbai; 1 GW powered shell capacity planned
- Lodha Q1FY27 net profit
- ₹1,373 crore (up 103.3%)
- Digital Edge land deal
- ~₹42.5 crore per acre, double the ₹21 crore per acre price in 2025
Quotes
Lodha Developers Managing Director
Managing director of Lodha Developers, overseeing the company’s real‑estate and data‑centre initiatives.
“We are leveraging our low‑cost land and pre‑owned tech parks to deliver data‑centre and cloud services at a lower capex and shorter construction time than peers.”
financialexpress.com
“Our strategy is to build and lease powered shells, with the data‑centre business self‑funded from land sales within the park.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
Related news
India's Data Centre Boom Reshapes Real Estate Amid AI Demand
Anant Raj’s Data Center Demerger Offers Promise, But Risks Remain
India’s Data Centre Capacity Could Triple by 2030
India Data Centre Capacity Seen Reaching 6 GW by 2029
Stocks in News: IPO Debuts, Deals, Results and Buyback
Realty Firms’ June-Quarter Sales Bookings Fall, Godrej Leads
Kotak drops TCS, DLF; adds Adani Ports, HDFC Life
Christopher Wood reshuffles India portfolio; adds MCX, Lenskart, Bajaj Finance
