This is just to share
on the tactics employed by the Hyderabad metro authorities (govt’s HMR and the
private L&T) to promote an image for the metro in the city. This has
nothing against the participants in the so called ‘interaction’ as we have a
lot of good friends in the journalist fraternity.
On 20th
January, the metro authorities invited many journalists for an ‘interactive’
session. It was not in their office in the city but at Taramati Baradari, a
place known for cultural shows and partying on the outskirts of the city. What
followed was less of interaction and more of drinks and dinner (with some dance
by the chiefs of the HMR and L&T metro). We are
reproducing below an item in the Times of
India, Hyderabad, 22 January 2013 under the title CHATPATA (image also inserted below the text).
“The NVS-Gadgil show “
“It was supposed to be a serious interaction (or so said the invite) with NVS Reddy and V B Gadgil over the future of metro rail in Hyderabad. But to everybody’s surprise, the event organised at Taramati Baradari over the weekend turned out to be comical with the Hyderabad Metro Rail chief deciding to entertain his guests by shaking a leg to some disco numbers being played by an orchestra team that had been especially brought in for the occasion. If that wasn’t shocking enough for the invitees, Reddy was soon heard crooning some Telugu folk songs (written to promote the metro rail) in his not-so-melodious voice leaving the gathering to wonder just what the meet was all about. The pool side party got even more colourful with the L&T CEO joining in, not to speak about the progress of the transport project, but render a peppy English number for his audience. That the duos’ show didn’t go down well with many was evident from the disgusted look on the faces of guests who were seen cursing themselves for landing up for the alleged conference. Some others, however, found solace in the delicious spread served up hot and spicy! “ (Note: NVS Reddy is the MD of HMR and V.B. Gadgil CEO and MD of L&T Metro Rail.)
“It was supposed to be a serious interaction (or so said the invite) with NVS Reddy and V B Gadgil over the future of metro rail in Hyderabad. But to everybody’s surprise, the event organised at Taramati Baradari over the weekend turned out to be comical with the Hyderabad Metro Rail chief deciding to entertain his guests by shaking a leg to some disco numbers being played by an orchestra team that had been especially brought in for the occasion. If that wasn’t shocking enough for the invitees, Reddy was soon heard crooning some Telugu folk songs (written to promote the metro rail) in his not-so-melodious voice leaving the gathering to wonder just what the meet was all about. The pool side party got even more colourful with the L&T CEO joining in, not to speak about the progress of the transport project, but render a peppy English number for his audience. That the duos’ show didn’t go down well with many was evident from the disgusted look on the faces of guests who were seen cursing themselves for landing up for the alleged conference. Some others, however, found solace in the delicious spread served up hot and spicy! “ (Note: NVS Reddy is the MD of HMR and V.B. Gadgil CEO and MD of L&T Metro Rail.)
No
wonder, one reporter was probably so much impressed with the drinks and dinner
that he likened the metro pillars with “beautiful girls playing under the
moonlight” in a Telugu daily. Now the L&T is making promotional films to
project an image for the metro. It is inviting students, executives, senior
citizens, housewives, and others to become Brand Ambassadors for Hyderabad
Metro Rail. It is ‘your chance to become a celebrity’, says half-page advts in
the local news papers in early January.
It
may be noted that the Hyd metro construction is going on in full swing in two
stretches of 8km and 12km where the roads are already very wide. The citizens
will start experiencing the traffic nightmares when the construction enters
beyond these stretches and when hundreds of shops will have to be demolished.
That will take some more time before which the authorities are trying to create
and promote graphically designed images for the metro.
Probably, more comical shows may
follow!
- Dr. C. Ramachandraiah
No comments:
Post a Comment