Balancing business with social responsibility

Hyderabad: What began in 1989 with just one supervisor and a modest Rs10,000 investment has grown into a multi-sector enterprise with over 250 employees, multiple verticals, and a reputation for credibility and trust. ARK Group, founded by civil engineer Gummi Ram Reddy, has carved out a name in contracting, real estate, infrastructure, agriculture, and philanthropy.

Reddy, who started his career with stints at B&R Developers and Amrita Estates, launched ARK Builders with a first contract worth Rs1.5 lakh. Within two years, the company touched a turnover of Rs1.1 crore. “Our growth has always been organic, built on referrals and trust,” he recalls.

Over the decades, ARK has executed prestigious projects including defence facilities at BDL Bhanur, nuclear fuel complexes, rehabilitation villages in earthquake-hit Latur, engineering colleges, and residential ventures across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Hosur, and Goa. International collaborations include projects with Tata Boeing, Tata Lockheed Martin, Tata Sikorsky, Tata GE, Mahindra, and Safran.

One of ARK’s proudest achievements is delivering a 40,000 sft FM2-grade jointless flooring in just 20 hours — a first-of-its-kind engineering feat in India. Its commitment to quality has earned projects Crisil 5-star ratings, while its customer-first approach is reflected in a near-perfect Google rating of 4.95.

Despite steady expansion, Reddy emphasises values over scale. “We are not the biggest company, but we are a disciplined and trusted one,” he says, crediting ARK’s Panchasutra of sincerity, honesty, hard work, goodness, and service. The company has since evolved these into core values of openness, accountability, trust, and happiness.

Reddy attributes his leadership style to work-life balanceand personal discipline. At 62, he maintains his fitness through yoga, marathons, cycling, and pranayama. Remarkably, he recently recited the Bhagavad Gita for 18 minutes while performing a headstand — a feat peers have suggested for a Guinness World Record. “Age is not a barrier,” he says, recalling his 112 km trek in the Himalayas earlier this year. ARK’s footprint goes beyond business. Through its Goshala with 140 cows, organic farming initiatives, and ARK Foundation, the group promotes sustainability and supports education, sports, and youth development. Notably, it has backed cricket star G Trisha, a key player in India’s U-19 Women’s World Cup victory, and rising badminton players Vennela and Lokesh. The company has also launched ARK Reflections IAS Academy, with a vision to prepare 100 IAS and IPS officers by 2030 through training for the Civil Services Examination.

Looking ahead, Reddy remains ambitious, but measured. “By 2030, I want ARK to reach the next level. IPO plans will be considered then,” he notes. His vision is for the company to continue for centuries, whether as a family-driven or employee-owned institution.

For Reddy, the essence of success lies not in turnovers, but in impact. “I am not doing business to earn money. I earn money by doing business. Happiness, trust, and ethics are what keep us moving forward,” he says with conviction.