India’s IT Hubs Are Looking for New Corners to Call Home

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Amazon India in Bengaluru is making a big move. The company is shifting its corporate headquarters from the city’s northwest to a location closer to the airport, which Mint earlier reported is aimed at cutting operational costs.

As part of this transition, Amazon Development Centre India and Amazon Seller Services have leased over 1 million sq. ft of office space in North Bengaluru, paying around ₹6.1 crore (about $700,000) in monthly rent, Hindustan Times reported, citing real estate analytics firm Propstack.

This isn’t about convenience or cost but part of a much larger trend reshaping India’s tech geography. From Bengaluru’s traffic-choked Outer Ring Road to the more planned clusters in Hyderabad and Chennai, India’s top IT hubs are undergoing a quiet but significant transformation driven by hybrid work models, real estate pressures, and digital-first growth.  

Bengaluru Remains the Top Choice

Bengaluru has long been India’s tech capital. Its IT growth story is told in phases, from the early days of Electronics City, where Infosys and Wipro set up in the 1990s, to the explosive growth of the Outer Ring Road corridor, now home to global giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.  

But success comes at a cost. Traffic, expensive housing, and strained infrastructure in the eastern and southern parts of the city are pushing companies north. Areas like Devanahalli and Hebbal, once peripheral, are now in demand for their proximity to the Kempegowda International Airport and availability of land. Amazon and SAP are among the early movers.  

Looking into the real estate data, office rentals on Outer Ring Road cost 80–110 per sq. ft monthly, while residential rates in hotspots like Sarjapur and Bellandur approach 12,000 per sq. ft. It is no surprise that developers are doubling down on North Bengaluru with integrated townships and tech parks.

Hyderabad in the Race

Hyderabad has emerged as Bengaluru’s strongest challenger. Backed by the Telangana government’s focused initiatives, planned tech clusters like HITEC City, Gachibowli, and Nanakramguda house Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta within a few kilometers of each other. 

More affordable and better structured than Bengaluru, Hyderabad offers office rents of 60-90 per sq. ft, and residential rates in Gachibowli and Manikonda of Rs 6,000–10,000 per sq. ft. Strong infrastructure, efficient public transport, and policies like TS-iPASS make it attractive to companies and employees alike.

Chennai, the Quiet Climber 

Chennai’s Old Mahabalipuram Road, or IT Expressway, hosts TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Accenture. Moving further south, there are SIPCOT’s sprawling tech parks. Meanwhile, Guindy and Manapakkam serve as homes for legacy players like IBM and L&T.

The city is also a SaaS hub, led by Zoho and Freshworks, with institutions like IIT-Madras supplying talent.

Though transport and water shortages remain hurdles, office rents of 40–70 per sq. ft and home prices of Rs5,000–8,000 per sq. ft keep it cost-efficient.

Gurugram, the Corporate Power Center

Gurugram has transformed from being an agricultural stretch into one of India’s most modern business districts. Cyber City and Golf Course Road are now home to companies like Google, Microsoft, EY, and Deloitte. The proximity to Delhi Airport and an urban infrastructure give the city an edge, especially for global BFSI, consulting, and enterprise tech firms.

But as the city grows, it faces challenges, like traffic around Cyber Hub and Udyog Vihar, further pushing development toward New Gurugram and the Dwarka Expressway. Office spaces in prime locations cost around Rs120–150 per sq. ft, while residential prices around Golf Course Road are Rs10,000–15,000 per sq. ft.

Mumbai Looks East

The tech landscape of Mumbai is an unusual mix. IT shares space with banking, media, and entertainment in locations including BKC, Andheri, Powai, and Malad. TCS, Amazon, Reliance, and ICICI Bank operate out of these areas. 

But Mumbai has long battled space constraints and high costs. Now, the buzz is slowly shifting eastward to Navi Mumbai, where areas like Ghansoli and Airoli are welcoming campus-style offices from Capgemini and Reliance. Office rents in BKC range from Rs250–400 per sq. ft, while Navi Mumbai offers similar quality at lower costs.

Tier-II and -III Cities Rise

India’s tech growth isn’t just vertical anymore; it’s expanding sideways. Traditional leaders like Bengaluru and Hyderabad are still at the top of the game, but rising real estate costs and hybrid work are pushing companies to think beyond the usual choices. 

According to Naukri, cities like Indore, Udaipur, Bhubaneshwar, and Jaipur are seeing impressive hiring growth. In 2024, Udaipur saw a 17% growth, while Indore was up by 14%. While hiring in Odisha grew 22% the same year, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan saw 18% growth in hiring each. 

Metro cities continue to grow as well, though at a more measured pace. As per foundit data, between June 2024 and June 2025, metro cities saw varying levels of year-on-year growth in Big Tech IT hiring. Hyderabad led the chart with a 14% increase, followed by Mumbai with 12% and Chennai at 9%. Bengaluru saw an 8% growth, while both Pune and Delhi-NCR posted a 6% increase in IT hiring.

Further, these locations offer lower costs and a better work-life balance, especially for younger professionals who prefer working closer to home.