WHO SAYS ITS RECESSION TIME?

http://www.livemint.com/2009/07/10225846/SBI-launches-new-branches-cre.html?h=B

Its a lion hearted, recession free move - appreciated.
But at the same time it raises some questions too.

Like.... Would any other corporate have attempted the same? (A grand expansion in times of recession? Remember the huge expansion drive by Subhiksha retail and its effect?
http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Retail-FMCG/Subhikshas-Last-Chance.html)

OR was it a finance ministry driven move as part of the grand orchestration to counter the recession by making available the banking channel credit to the public thus trying to drive up the demand ?

What about manning of the new branches? Do we forsee a huge recruitment drive ahead too?

One thing is sure O.P Bhatt (CMD of SBI) as the head of a private corporate and O.P. Bhatt as the the CMD of government backed SBI will behave differently, the fear factor being absent in the latter.