Indian business icon Mr Ratan Tata, already named among the world's most influential business people from India, has now made to a list of 30 most powerful in the British construction space.

According to the list compiled by UK based digital magazine Contract Journal, Mr Ratan Tata has been placed at the 16th position, ahead of housing minister Mr Caroline Flint, who is at the 18th place. Mr Ian Tyler of engineering and construction services provider Balfour Beatty topped the list, followed by Mr Simon Williams director of cartels at Office of Fair Trading and Mr Ray O'Rourke chairman of private construction firm Laing O'Rourke.

The report said that "Already providing products that feature in many British homes after its takeover of Tetley in 2000, TATA Group now supplies the mainstay material in most of its offices."

The report said that TATA’s joint entity known as TATA Corus has a 50% share of the UK market. It added that "Such is its dominance that steelwork contractors have nowhere to turn when it pushes through price rises. With prices set to surge further as input costs continue to rise, Mr Tata could have a major impact on construction costs."