The Essar Group was established by Mr. Shashi Ruia and Mr. Ravi Ruia in 1969, in South India. The company began its operations with the construction of an outer breakwater in Chennai port, an order worth Rs 2.5 crore. Until then, only foreign construction companies would undertake a project of this magnitude and complexity. However, Essar’s chosen policy was to get into areas of import substitution, high technology and national importance.