The Hindu Business Line : L&T Info begins work on Bangalore unit — Hopes to double turnover, manpower in 18 months

Mr A M Naik (right), Chairman and Managing Director, L&T, looking at the model of the proposed software park at Whitefield in Bangalore on Thursday. - - G. R. N. Somashekar

Bangalore , Aug. 19

L&T Infotech Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of the engineering and construction conglomerate, expects to nearly double its turnover to Rs 700 crore and increase manpower to 5,000 people (from 3,200 now) in the next 18 months.

Announcing this, the L&T Chairman and Managing Director, Mr A.M.Naik, said the company expected its increased focus on providing infotech and engineering services to the global manufacturing industry to yield results in the coming years.

He was initiating the company's plans for Rs 150-crore software park here, to house a total of 3,000 people. Work on the first phase, involving Rs 55 crore, for 150 people had started.

Mr Naik said it expected to grow organically but would also consider acquisition of companies catering to the manufacturing and financial services space.

The company would focus on offering high-end IT and engineering services to the manufacturing sector. "Engineering is our core competence and we will focus on delivering value to customers.''

With a projected growth of 20 per cent for the year, the parent company expects increased export growth — it had Rs 2,500-crore of export order bookings and the company plans to open an office in China and Kazakhstan during the year.