By BP Acharya
As we mourn the passing of Ratan Tata, a true legend and doyen of Indian industry, we remember his outstanding contribution to the growth of high end manufacturing in Hyderabad, especially in aerospace sector, apart from the significant presence of TCS and his encouragement for T hub.
In 2007/8, when we lost out on the Nano car project to Gujarat, then CM Dr YSR wrote to him to express our disappointment. He replied to the CM that he has something bigger in mind for Hyderabad and that’s how the Sikorsky helicopter project came to Adibatla, which thanks to the anchor industry of Tata Advance Systems has become a global aerospace hub today. He was impressed by the ORR and, while driving on it, had commented that he could land an aircraft on it.
That’s how the aerospace cluster in Hyderabad had started.
It will be a fitting tribute to his memory to name the approach road from ORR to Adibatla after him as Ratan Tata Marg. TGIIC/ HMDA/ Local body concerned may be asked to take action, accordingly.
May he rest in peace and continue to inspire us.
(The author is a retired IAS officer and former Special Chief Secretary)
