Securing India's Financial Backbone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) newly established data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Built at an investment of Rs 169 crore, the cutting-edge facility is designed to bolster the nation's digital financial architecture and payment security ecosystems.

The high-profile inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Odisha Governor Brajmohan Ram, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, and Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure

Spanning 18.55 acres at Info Valley-II in Jatni, the foundational stone for the ambitious project was laid by former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on March 22, 2023. Government officials highlighted that the geographical location of the site was deliberately chosen for its stability. Positioned away from seismically active zones and high-risk international border areas, the facility minimizes exposure to both natural disasters and geopolitical vulnerabilities.

The Jatni data centre marks the second facility of its kind commissioned by the central bank, following its predecessor in Navi Mumbai. It has been engineered to meet the robust computing demands of the central bank while delivering a secure, scalable, and resilient ecosystem for the broader financial sector.

Strengthening Digital Resilience

The newly opened complex serves a dual purpose:

* Mission-Critical Operations: The data centre will host vital payment and settlement systems alongside other flagship financial initiatives, driving the efficiency, reliability, and reach of digital financial services nationwide. * Cybersecurity Capability Building: The integrated Cybersecurity Training Institute aims to serve as a dedicated institutional platform for advanced training, enterprise-technology research, and sector-wide defense capability development.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi lauded the project, noting that it marks the Prime Minister's ninth visit to Odisha since the formation of the state's BJP government in 2024, and emphasized that the facility will significantly accelerate the state's technological and economic development.

Stringent security protocols were enforced for the visit, with local authorities deploying approximately 2,100 police personnel and executing temporary traffic restrictions along the transit routes between Biju Patnaik International Airport and the Jatni facility.