Mr B Muthuraman

Tata Steel’s participation in the infrastructure development of the country has increased further, the Managing Director announced during MD Online. “The company is not only supplying steel for the highways but also for the crash barriers.” The company has received orders for it from 5 different highway locations. In addition, the company supplied 1000 tonnes of Cold Rolled and Galvanised Material to Maruti Udyog this month.

Tata Steel also began contract manufacturing of Tiscon rebars during the month This is unlike mere conversion, Mr Muthuraman said as it ensures a strict control over quality, brand image and integrity. “Through this initiative the company will be able to increase the total volume of Tata Tiscon without any related capital investment,” he stated.

Referring to the Net Profit earned by the company during the third quarter of 2003-04 the Managing Director said, “it has shown an increase over the same period last year and this should be the trend to be followed. “Our target should be to achieve Rs 2000 crores PAT in the next financial year,” he stressed.

Mr B Muthuraman expressed joy at The Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata’s selection as the “Best CEO of the Year” by the national business daily, Business Standard. Important decisions taken by the Board, he said, include, “expansion of the South Eastern Block Phase II of the West Bokaro Collieries, construction of a port in Dhabra, Orissa – a green field project for the company and the setting up of a Merchant Coke Plant at Haldia in collaboration with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation.”

Once again, Mr Muthuraman reiterated Tata Steel’s commitment to Safety and its intention to improve safety standards within the company. “Apex Committee Meetings on how to improve safety performance are being conducted. Line managers will be responsible for the introduction of good safety practices and systems with the assistance of the Safety Department,” Mr Muthuraman said. He also stated the company’s intention to engage consultants to help the company in the process of OHSAS certification.

The Indian Steel & Wire Products unit, recently revived by the company, “has stared operation,” the Managing Director said, “in its first month of operations – January – ISWP has drawn and sold 800-900 tonnes of wires. The production and sale target set for ISWP for the year 2004-05 is 150,000 tonnes of wire rods and wires.