Often, in the corporate world, ‘inauguration' is not synonymous with ‘beginning' or ‘inception'. One is reminded of the ‘inauguration' of Ashok Leyland's Hosur-II plant, back in December 1996, nearly a year after the plant had started producing trucks. The ‘inauguration' had to wait until the then Prime Minister, Deve Gowda, could find time to do the honours. Closer in time is the ‘inauguration' of Indian Bank's new, swanky corporate office in Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 72 crore. The bank has moved some departments to the new building, but the formal ‘inauguration' will wait until the Finance Minister, Pranabda, is able to find time. The bank has come up with some innovative reasoning as to why it moved in so much ahead of the ribbon-cutting. The idea, it says, is to experience first-hand how it is to operate from the building, so that any shortcomings can be rectified before the inauguration.

An unwelcome address

Those who deliver ‘welcome address' at seminars need to remember to be brief, or they run the risk of becoming the butt of jokes. That is what happened when the benign, old man who got so carried away with in his welcome address at a Chamber of Commerce seminar in Chennai, that it almost became the keynote address that was to be delivered by the chief guest, a visiting foreigner.

When the unrelenting speaker mentioned the words “India has missed the bus” the Business Line correspondent overheard some one in the audience say, “If this man goes on like this, the chief guest will miss his flight.”

An announcement that didn't come!

Having heard in May that Maruti Suzuki might drive into Gujarat, speculation was rife that a formal announcement would be made by the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, after the Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Osamu Suzuki, met him on September 8. The excitement in the Gujarat media, as well as the Japanese media in New Delhi was palpable. Even a no-reply from the officials was construed as a ‘pregnant pause'. But what awaited them was only an anti-climactic denouement. Suzuki not only said that his company would ‘consider' setting up a plant in Gujarat, but also added that Gujarat was not the only State under evaluation.

What lies beneath!

The new Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chennai has apparently become a darling of patrons, judging by the number of events happening there. Since the hotel has been long in the making – 16 years – its features such as the brilliant, sun-lit lobby and lovely swimming pool prompt visitors to mouth the famous Rajnikanth words “late, but latest”. But, as journalists who cover events in the hotel find to their dismay, the horror is in what lies beneath. The two-wheeler park is in the third-level basement, and, there is no lift – at least, as yet. Ooops! you park the bike and you have to climb up three storeys!

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