RBI Sets Up High-Security Data Centre in Odisha

The Reserve Bank of India has established a high-security data centre in Odisha to strengthen the protection of critical financial systems.

The new facility is located in Info Valley-II, Khordha district near Bhubaneswar. Officials said the site was selected to reduce exposure to seismic risks and potential cross-border threats.

Strategic Location Choice

The greenfield campus spans 18.55 acres and will host the central bank’s core computing infrastructure. This includes systems related to currency management, payment and settlement operations, and regulatory data.

Analysts cited by PTI noted that the location lies far from India’s western and northern borders. It is also outside high seismic risk zones, lowering the chances of earthquake-related disruptions.

Unlike traditional data hubs such as Mumbai and Chennai, Odisha does not host major subsea communication cable landing points. Experts suggest this reduces the concentration of cyber and network-related vulnerabilities.

Complementing Existing Infrastructure

The Odisha facility will function as the RBI’s second major data centre. It complements the primary data centre located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.

The new centre has been built with fault-tolerant architecture and high redundancy. It has reportedly received Tier IV certification for design and operational reliability, indicating high levels of uptime and resilience.

Growing Need for Secure Data Hubs

Financial institutions globally are increasingly investing in their own secure data centres. Analysts say the move reflects the growing importance of safeguarding financial data, now considered critical national infrastructure.

With India’s digital payments ecosystem expanding rapidly, authorities view robust data infrastructure as essential for financial stability.

The RBI is also planning a pilot cloud facility in 2025. Data centres in Mumbai and Hyderabad are expected to provide local cloud storage for financial institutions.

Broader Trend

Other institutions, including the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the State Bank of India, have also built or are developing dedicated data centres.

Officials say Odisha offers advantages such as availability of land, power, and water resources, along with relatively lower seismic vulnerability compared to the Himalayan region.

The move highlights a broader shift toward strengthening infrastructure resilience amid rising cyber threats and geopolitical uncertainties.