Gurgaon to become Haryana’s 1 of 2 AI hubs, will train youths for tech industry
Gurgaon is set to become one of Haryana's two AI hubs, focusing on training youths for the tech industry. This initiative aims to enhance skill development and promote opportunities in the field of artificial intelligence. The move is expected to boost the technology sector in the region and attract more investments. By providing training in AI, Gurgaon aims to position itself as a hub for innovation and technological advancement. This development signals a positive step towards nurturing a tech-savvy workforce in the state.
Gurgaon Budget Highlights
In its over Rs 2 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2025-26 presented on Monday, Haryana has proposed to start an AI Mission to bring in automation into governance and use data analytics for policy formation. The government also plans to set up two AI hubs in Gurgaon and Panchkula to train 50,000 youths which prepares them better for the job market by enhancing employability.
In his maiden budget address, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who holds the finance portfolio, said, over the last 10 years, Haryana focused on e-governance, which generated a large amount of data related to public services. The utilization of this data for policy formation and the automation of the government will improve its efficiency.
Infrastructure Development
For this purpose, the state is going to establish the Haryana AI Mission, with financial assistance of Rs 474 crore from the World Bank. The government also pledged Rs 4,556 crore of the total Rs 5,452 crore needed for the expansion of Gurgaon metro corridor from Huda City Centre to Cyber Hub. Civil works for the project are slated to start in May. In 2025-26 alone, around Rs 300 crore will be spent on the project.
Rajjath Goel, managing director of MRG Group, commented, "The new metro corridor will seamlessly connect key business hubs, significantly reducing travel time and enhancing the liveability quotient of Gurgaon. Such infrastructure developments further cement the city's position as a preferred real estate and commercial hub."
In the 2025-26 financial year, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) will spend around Rs 917 crore on 42 road projects and Rs 1,750 crore on 23 projects related to water supply and drainage. Another Rs 2,000 crore has been allotted for the revamp of Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) and Tau Devi Lal Stadium.
Ashwani Kumar of Pyramid Infratech mentioned, "The budget reflects a forward-thinking approach to urban growth and quality of life. It is expected to boost sports infrastructure in the state. Redevelopment of SPR will not only improve connectivity but also make Gurgaon more accessible and attractive to businesses and homebuyers."
Other Initiatives
The budget also proposes an environment training centre in IMT Manesar and new bus stands in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Karnal on public-private partnership. The proposed heliport in Gurgaon will be linked with Salasar, Chandigarh, Khatu Shyam, and Pitambari Mata temples. It also states work on setting up a flower market in the city will be expedited.
In a first, Haryana proposes to create a "department of future" that will assess emerging challenges and economic opportunities and give suggestions to different government departments to draft policies to mitigate them. Chief Minister Saini highlighted the impact of technologies like climate change, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and others on jobs, business, and industry, emphasizing the need to prepare for future challenges.
Besides, Haryana will encourage private players to create a "fund of funds" of Rs 2,000 crore for extending financial assistance to startups in the state.