Unlocking India’s potential: infrastructure and opportunities for Global Capability Centres
A capability centre is only as good as the ground it stands on. Office supply, power, connectivity, transport and the policy regime decide how fast a centre can open, and how well it runs once the first teams are in their seats.
Over the last decade, India has moved from a handful of mature hubs to a wider map of cities that can host a serious centre. That changes the location decision from “which of the big two” to “which city fits this team”.
Grade-A workspace beyond the metros
Established hubs still offer the deepest supply of ready office space, but newer corridors in cities such as Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad now offer built-to-suit and managed options at a lower seat cost.
- Managed seats let a team start in weeks, before a long lease is signed.
- Built-to-suit campuses suit centres with a clear multi-year headcount plan.
- Special economic zones and GIFT City add tax and regulatory advantages for eligible activities.
Connectivity and resilience
Redundant fibre, reliable power backup and good airport access are now baseline expectations in every tier-one city. The question to ask is less “is it available” and more “how is it contracted and tested”.
Policy that rewards setting up
State governments compete for capability centres with incentives on stamp duty, power tariffs, training and capital expenditure. The value of those incentives varies by state and by activity, so they belong in the location model from the start, not as a late negotiation.
What this means for your plan
Shortlist cities on talent first, then test each against workspace supply, cost and incentives. A structured comparison usually narrows the field to two or three realistic options within a couple of weeks.