When one hears “tech hub” in India, names like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune often spring to mind. But quietly, the eastern city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha is staking a claim. A city with a rich cultural and spiritual past is now navigating a future of high-technology, innovation parks and smart-city infrastructure. The question is: Is it really becoming the next major technology hub—or is this still more aspiration than reality?
In this article we will explore Bhubaneswar’s evolution: the infrastructure upgrades, policy moves, on-the‐ground ecosystem of IT and startups; its advantages; what remains to be done; and finally, an assessment of whether it can truly become a major tech centre.
The Smart City & IT Vision for Bhubaneswar
A. Smart City Foundations
Bhubaneswar was included in India’s Smart City Mission and has been actively developing its urban infrastructure under the aegis of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL). The city has rolled out digital initiatives, transit-oriented development (the “Town Centre” project) and integrated geo-spatial services through the portal “BhubaneswarOne”.
In 2023, Bhubaneswar was awarded the title of ‘Best Smart City in Eastern Region’ at the India Smart Cities Conclave.These recognitions suggest strong progress in the smart‐city domain.
B. IT / Tech Hub Ambitions
On the tech front, Bhubaneswar is being positioned as an Information Technology and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) hub for eastern India. A key reference document states that “Today, Bhubaneswar is a fast emerging regional hub for education, health care and information technology” and that it hosts “the top five Indian IT companies: Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra and Mindtree”.
Additionally, the presence of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) centre in Bhubaneswar and various Centres of Entrepreneurship reinforce that the city is building tech infrastructure.
And policy documents for Odisha highlight Bhubaneswar’s attractiveness for IT/ITES, GCC (Global Capability Centres) and fintech investment.
Thus, at least on paper, Bhubaneswar has the smart city credentials + a growing tech base.
What’s Working: Strengths & Opportunities
1. Strategic Location & Infrastructure
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Bhubaneswar’s airport connectivity and relative ease of access make it a viable base.
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There are major infrastructure projects underway — for example a proposed 34‐floor IT tower in the heart of the city to house 8,000+ staff.
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Transit-oriented development (e.g., Bhubaneswar Town Centre) aims to integrate public transport with business nodes.
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The presence of top institutions (such as Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, IIIT, NISER and more) provides a pool of engineering and technology talent.
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The State’s policy mentions a strong graduate base in science/technology and management among emerging cities.
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STPI and other incubation / co-entrepreneurship centres in Bhubaneswar provide infrastructure for startups, including in emerging technologies (AR/VR, IoT, etc.)
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The policy framework mentions subsidies, incentives for IT/ITES, land, electricity, R&D etc.
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The smart city work (GIS systems, unified portals, smart traffic management) creates a digital infrastructure layer which tech companies can leverage. For example, the “BhubaneswarOne” portal allows accessing location-based services and integrated data.
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Winning awards and recognition adds to the brand value of Bhubaneswar.
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Expansion of IT parks, more job campuses, GCC setups.
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Enhancement of smart urban infrastructure (e.g., improved roads, transit, digital systems) to support business operations.
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Focus on mid‐tier growth: BPO/ITES, software exports, domestic startup growth.
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Incentivise local graduates to join tech firms rather than migrate.
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Emergence of a few large product-engineering or R&D campuses (perhaps domestic giant or global company).
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Development of a visible startup ecosystem: funding, accelerators, incubators, home-grown success stories.
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Better lifestyle amenities: quality housing, international schools, entertainment, global connectivity.
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Brand as Eastern India’s “tech hub” for IT/ITES, fintech, possibly semiconductor/ESDM (electronics) given Odisha’s focus.
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Bhubaneswar could rival established Indian tech cities if:
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it develops clusters in emerging fields (AI, IoT, AR/VR, semiconductor)
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it attracts overseas investment and has a global technology-brand presence
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talent retention becomes strong and there is mobility within the ecosystem (startups → scaleups → global players)
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At that point it may shed the “emerging” tag and be recognised as a full-fledged tech hub.
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Entry of large product & R&D tech players (national or international) establishing major campuses in Bhubaneswar.
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Growth of home‐grown startups and venture capital funding in the city.
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Retention of talent: whether engineers and tech professionals settle in Bhubaneswar rather than migrate out.
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Improvement in lifestyle/city infrastructure (transport, international connectivity, housing, social amenities) to match tech-city standards.
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Evidence of high-value exports (not just IT/ITES but product engineering, electronics, AI solutions) from Bhubaneswar firms.
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Global recognition and branding: whether Bhubaneswar starts being cited internationally as a tech destination rather than just “smart city” destination.
2. Talent & Academia
3. Business & Tech Economy Entry Points
4. Smart City Momentum = Good for Tech Growth
What’s Still Missing / The Challenges
A. Depth of Tech Ecosystem
While Bhubaneswar hosts major service-based IT companies, the presence of large product‐engineering companies, global tech giant campuses, or deep R&D centres is still limited. Many observers feel the ecosystem is still at an early stage of development. For example, from a forum:
“Bhubaneswar is not yet a Fully fledged IT Hub in my Opinion…We have a long way to go and I feel the Govt. is bad at execution”
B. Retention of Talent & Lifestyle Factors
A tech hub requires not just jobs but a living ecosystem: good lifestyle, international connectivity, perks for talent. From user feedback:
“I have been working remotely from Bhubaneswar ... but honestly, the infrastructure still needs to catch up. Power cuts have been a real challenge … after 11 pm … only a handful of delivery options.”
C. Perception and Branding
Even with announcements and policy moves, changing the perception from “emerging city” to “established tech hub” takes time. Local anecdotal evidence suggests that while there is buzz, many believe “the real wave is still a few years away.”
D. Ecosystem of Innovation & High-Value Tech
Service-based operations are good for employment, but tech hubs of global significance need product innovation, R&D, IP generation, venture capital, tech unicorns. That appears to be nascent in Bhubaneswar.
E. Infrastructure Execution & Urban Challenges
The smart-city/smart-infrastructure efforts sometimes run up against execution realities: “smart traffic signals” are being rolled out, but there are complaints about roads, signage, urban mobility still lagging.
Where Bhubaneswar Could Go — Scenarios & Roadmap
Scenario A: Near‐Term (1–3 years)
Scenario B: Mid‐Term (3–7 years)
Scenario C: Long-Term (7–10 years+)
Assessment: Is Bhubaneswar Becoming the Next Tech Hub?
In short: Yes—but with caveats.
On the positive side, Bhubaneswar is making rapid strides: the smart city infrastructure, academic talent base, policy incentives and early IT growth all point in the right direction. The city has several foundational blocks that tech hubs require.
However, calling it the next Bengaluru or the next Hyderabad might be premature. The depth of ecosystem, high-value research and innovation, global player presence, startup scaleups and lifestyle maturity are still developing. The perception still remains “emerging” rather than “arrived.”
Thus, Bhubaneswar is well on its way to becoming a viable regional tech hub—especially for eastern India—but whether it will become one of the major national tech hubs depends on execution, timing, and whether it can leap from services and infrastructure to innovation and global tech leadership.
What To Watch For
Here are key indicators to monitor over the next few years:
Conclusion
The journey of Bhubaneswar from a city of ancient temples to one aspiring to be a modern tech hub is compelling. The smart-city enhancements and the tech-ecosystem foundations indicate that the smart city dream is not just rhetoric. But dreams need follow-through. Whether Bhubaneswar becomes the “next tech hub” depends on its ability to scale the vision, deliver infrastructure, nurture innovation and build an ecosystem that retains and rewards talent.
For investors, tech firms, startup founders and professionals, Bhubaneswar offers a promising option—but with a view that it is “emerging now” rather than “fully matured”. Over the coming years, if the momentum holds, Bhubaneswar may well earn its place among India’s recognised tech cities.
