Global IT company Cognizant will soon build a big IT campus in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, after buying 21.31 acres of land for just 99 paise from the state government. The company plans to invest ₹1,582 crore in the project and create around 8,000 jobs over the next eight years.
What’s the Plan?
The land, located in Kapulauppada under the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), was offered at this low price as part of the Andhra Pradesh government’s goal to turn Visakhapatnam into a major technology hub. Cognizant aims to start operations at the new campus by March 2029.
This decision supports Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of making Visakhapatnam the economic capital of Andhra Pradesh. By offering land at a nominal cost, the state hopes to attract big tech companies and investments.
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Earlier this year, IT and HR Minister Nara Lokesh met with Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He encouraged Cognizant to expand into smaller cities like Visakhapatnam. Lokesh even said that “If Goa married Bangalore and had a child, that would be Visakhapatnam,” showing his dream of a modern, tech-friendly coastal city.
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Following the TCS Model
This isn’t the first time Andhra Pradesh has offered land this way. In April 2025, TCS was also given 21 acres for just 99 paise, showing a clear plan to build a tech corridor in the city.
Why Visakhapatnam?
Visakhapatnam is close to big tech cities like Hyderabad (600 km away) and Chennai (800 km away). With this new campus, the state hopes to boost the local economy and create many skilled job opportunities.
