Reliance Infra to expand workforce by 10%

At a time when companies are shedding workforce to battle economic slowdown, the infrastructure arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) is planning to expand its headcount by 10 per cent, hiring 1,500 employees during 2009-10 to step up its operations.

"We are going to add 1,500 workforce to our existing numbers in the infrastructure segment next year as we are making forays into newer areas, winning more awards in highways, ports and other segments," Reliance Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer Lalit Jalan told PTI.

"Reliance Infra alone employs 7,200 people. Including SPVs and subsidiaries, the total strength is 14,500," he said.

In the infrastructure space, the company is focused on roads, urban infrastructure, which includes mass rapid transit system, sealink and airports, speciality real estate, which includes business districts, trade towers, convention centre and special economic zones as well as free trade zones.

Stressing there were no plans for downsizing, Jalan said, there have been no lay-offs at Reliance Infrastructure.

"In fact, our capacity is underutilised and underleveraged. We are the largest developer of road and highway projects for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the build, own, transfer (BOT) scheme," he added.