J.J. Irani, Russi Mody and B. Muthuraman release balloons during the Founder’s Day celebrations at Tata Steel works. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, March 3: The cheer from the audience was the loudest when Russi Mody garlanded the statue of JN Tata as a tribute to the city’s architect on his birthday today.

The former chairman of Tata Steel, dressed in an impeccable white shirt, proved that he was still lovingly etched in everyone’s heart in the steel city.

Invited by the corporate major to celebrate Founder’s Day with senior officials , Mody made his presence felt in the huge gathering that had come to witness the celebrations as they unfolded at Tata Steel Works’ main gate this morning. Other officials of Tata Steel were seen closely guarding him as he made his way back to his seat in the front row of the gallery.

Former managing director of Tata Steel J.J. Irani was walking around shaking hands and taking notice of minute details of the proceedings at the event.

Tata Steel Managing director B. Muthuraman joining the proceedings and ensured that nothing went wrong on the eventful day.

Several colourful floats paraded in a stretch on either sides of the founder’s statue. Each of the tableaux showed the individual journeys of the corporate departments as they narrated their growth from a small division to the present status and stature.

“It is indeed a proud moment for all of us,” said Muthuraman. Elaborating on expansion plans, Muthuraman said the company would reach newer heights by 2012. “We are introducing some major development programmes that are sure to take the company to new heights and we are looking at increasing our efficiency in making steel for the world,” he said.

Muthuraman also announced that the proposed return on investments would be as high as 32 per cent.