Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman and deputy managing director (steel) T Mukherjee arrive at Beldih Club. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Feb. 2: The Corus takeover has rejuvenated the spirits of Tata Steel managing director B. Muthuraman, who promised grand centenary celebrations this year.

Addressing a news conference on his return, Muthuraman said the preparations for the centenary year celebrations would begin now and the announcements would be made soon.

Though a committee — including him and senior officials — was formed to decide the celebration line-up some time ago, the managing director said, he was not really interested in the proceedings.

“In fact, I skipped several meetings and I soon wrapped up the ones I attended as I felt there was something missing in order to actually get into a celebratory mood. This actually irritated my other colleagues who were shocked at my disinterest in the celebrations,” Muthuraman said.

But with the Corus deal, the “right centenary gift”, things have changed. “This is the right time to celebrate,” he said, adding that the celebrations would be something the residents of Jamshedpur would consider worth remembering.

At the press conference, Muthuraman said the takeover has put Jamshedpur firmly on the world map.

Earlier, too, the steel city was popular in the international circles. But now, those in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom would be well acquainted with the city, he said.

It was a matter of great pride for Jamshedpur as this deal is the largest acquisition in India, over 10 times bigger than any other, said the managing director of the fifth largest steelmaker in the world. The deal has made the country, the state and Jamshedpur proud.

Muthuraman also expressed hope that the record Tata Steel has created by acquiring Corus would be broken.

Earlier, this morning, an exuberant Muthuraman visited the premises of the Tata Workers’ Union (TWU). He was accorded a rousing welcome by the office-bearers and other committee members. TWU president Raghunath Pandey and other office-bearers congratulated Muthuraman.

The managing director stayed there for 45 minutes and talked to the union officials about the takeover of the Anglo-Dutch company.

Pandey said the union would continue to support the management’s endeavours in its future acquisition bids.

He also said the acquisition was in no way going to harm the prospects of the employees at Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant.