Leighton Asia and Sterling and Wilson Awarded Hyderabad Data Center Construction Contract

CIMIC Group's Leighton Asia has been awarded a contract by a multinational technology corporation to construct a data center in Hyderabad, India, with construction scheduled to commence immediately. The project will be delivered in joint venture with Sterling and Wilson, an engineering and EPC specialist with established capabilities in energy and data center infrastructure.

A Second Award From the Same Client

The Hyderabad contract represents the second data center project awarded to Leighton Asia by this major technology client, underscoring a deepening relationship between the contractor and one of the world's largest technology operators. The award continues Leighton Asia's expansion in the digital infrastructure sector across Asia, where the company has built a portfolio spanning Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau, and the Philippines.

CIMIC Group President and Executive Director Roberto Gallardo said the award reflects the confidence clients have in Leighton Asia's ability to deliver complex projects safely and reliably. "We're seeing strong demand for high-quality digital infrastructure across key Asian markets, and this project further strengthens our presence in a sector where we have proven capability and a strong track record," Gallardo said.

Scope and Structure of the Hyderabad Project

The project scope covers full civil, structural, and architectural works alongside mechanical, electrical, and plumbing fit-out, positioning the build as a turnkey critical-infrastructure delivery rather than a partial shell or fit-out contract. Leighton Asia and Sterling and Wilson are jointly assuming construction and integration responsibility under the joint venture structure.

The project is located in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state, which has emerged as one of India's faster-growing data center markets. Hyderabad recorded 19.2 MW of data center absorption in 2024, driven largely by hyperscale demand, as operators build capacity ahead of anticipated growth in cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads.

Hyderabad's Position in India's Data Center Market

India's data center market has drawn significant attention from global construction and infrastructure groups, with the country's overall market estimated at approximately €18 billion. Hyderabad has gained ground on historically dominant clusters such as Mumbai and Chennai, supported by available land, fiber connectivity, and supportive state policy from the Telangana government.

Vacancy in Hyderabad averaged around 23% in 2025, a figure analysts characterize as consistent with an expansion-phase market where operators are building ahead of forward demand. A new data center commencing construction now would be positioned to deliver into a market with strong projected absorption from global technology and AI-related tenants.

ACS Group's Digital Infrastructure Push Across Asia

The Hyderabad award is part of a broader strategic push by ACS Group, through its Australian subsidiary CIMIC and operating company Leighton Asia, to grow its presence in Asia's digital infrastructure construction pipeline. ACS has framed the sector as fast-growing and has pursued repeated wins across the region as hyperscale and AI-driven demand accelerates build programs by major technology operators.

Related projects within the ACS group of companies have targeted Indian Green Building Council LEED Gold certification on data center builds for the same client, reflecting an emphasis on ESG-aligned construction that is increasingly relevant to institutional investors and operators acquiring or financing data center assets.

Sterling and Wilson brings EPC expertise to the joint venture, complementing Leighton Asia's regional construction capabilities. Together, the two firms are taking on the full construction and systems-integration scope of the Hyderabad facility.

Sources

ACS Group Press Room — CIMIC's Leighton Asia Awarded a Data Center Project in India