RBI’s new data centre far from seismic risks and cross-border threats — where is it?
Times of India
by TOI BUSINESS DESKFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has established a high-security data center in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, as part of its efforts to protect critical financial systems and ensure operational continuity. The facility, located at Info Valley-II, Khordha, spans 18.55 acres and is designed to minimize exposure to both seismic risks and cross-border threats. This new greenfield data center complements the RBI’s Primary Data Centre in Navi Mumbai and represents a strategic shift towards securing financial infrastructure in safer locations.
The choice of Bhubaneswar was influenced by its distance from India’s western and northern borders, reducing vulnerability to potential missile or drone attacks. Additionally, Odisha is located outside high seismic risk zones, further enhancing the facility’s safety. Unlike traditional data hubs like Mumbai or Chennai, which are more vulnerable due to their proximity to major subsea communication cables, Bhubaneswar offers a lower risk of concentrated cyber threats and network disruptions.
The RBI’s decision reflects a global trend among financial institutions to establish secure, dedicated data centers rather than relying on public infrastructure. This shift is driven by the need to safeguard critical national financial data, mitigate cyberattacks, and ensure operational resilience. The Odisha center follows international best practices, such as those used by the US Federal Reserve’s East Rutherford Operations Center, with fault-tolerant architecture and Tier IV certification for reliability.
Other key financial institutions, including Sebi and SBI, are also investing in their own data centers to align with these standards. Bhubaneswar’s abundant land, water, and power resources, combined with its strategic distance from potential risks, make it an ideal location for such infrastructure. The RBI plans to further enhance its capabilities by launching a pilot cloud facility in 2025, ensuring robust data storage solutions for financial firms.
As India’s digital transactions grow rapidly, the RBI’s focus on secure and reliable data systems underscores the importance of financial stability in the modern economy. This move not only strengthens India’s financial resilience but also sets a precedent for other nations looking to protect their critical infrastructure from emerging threats.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/22/2026