Land of opportunity

Being one of the largest commercial centres in South Asia, Delhi attracts professionals eyeing the booming Indian market from across the country, writes Sachin Saini.

Being one of the largest commercial centres in South Asia, Delhi attracts professionals eyeing the booming Indian market from across the country. The last few years have seen a steady growth in the state’s economy — and this, across sectors like real estate, ITES (Information technology enabled services), media, and retail.

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With such flourishing fields, Delhi is attracting not only investors, but also established professionals and freshers from all over. Says Pankaj Bhatnagar, Technical Lead in India Bulls, who moved to Delhi two years ago from Rajasthan, “Everything is here. The software sector — even in terms of pay scales — is growing in tandem with Mumbai and Bangalore.’’

According to a recent survey, nearly 30 per cent of Indian graduates don’t find jobs. But the rise of call centres has brought some respite for a large group in the city. Says Avtar Singh, a call centre employee, who recently shifted to the Capital from Amritsar, “Delhi is full of job opportunities. The large number of MNCs here are a boon to graduates. Besides fluency in English, all you need is a college degree.”

With the spurt in construction of residential and commercial properties, and with the Commonwealth Games being just two years away, the real estate sector is on a high. And this has given the city a major infrastructural facelift. The list of opportunities in Delhi and NCR doesn’t end at software or real estate sectors.

The national Capital, always a political hotbed, is also a big media centre. Says Abhineet Kumar, who works with a TV channel, “I always wanted to work in Delhi. I don’t think I would’ve found as many options elsewhere. This city holds the media industry.” Delhi’s multicultural environment was the other aspect that brought Kumar here. “Delhi adopts everyone,” he says. The city not only provides a platform to Indians, but also to foreigners that are turning up in large numbers to explore job options here.