Brands
BPCL wins 9 awards at the 16th Global Communication Conclave
Mumbai: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) has bagged a total of nine excellence awards for corporate collaterals at the 16th Global Communication Conclave organised by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) in Kolkata on 12 November 2022.
The company received nine awards in the following categories: public relations, business campaigns, use of social media and campaigns, annual reports, corporate events, and corporate responsibility campaigns.
The Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) is a pan-India communication exchange forum with offices in 38 cities and towns across India. This premier network connects PR, media, commercial and public service advertising, marcom, academia in communication, and students. The PRCI Annual Corporate Collateral Awards for corporate communications are presented annually to recognise talent and professional standards.
BPCL was recognised for its purpose-driven public relations and brand strategy that adds delightful dynamism to communication and the manner in which BPCL leverages the power of both traditional and digital media to reach the relevant target audience.
On behalf of the company, BPCL’s top employees, including public relations and brand chief general manager Abbas Akhtar, head retail East Debashis Naik, and public relations & brand general manager Charu Yadav, received the awards.
Earlier, Akhtar was bestowed with the coveted honour of being inducted into the PRCI ‘Hall of Fame’ – an illustrious league of “the best of the best” industry professionals—for his exceptional contributions to the field of PR and leveraging its potential in innovative and pragmatic ways. He said, “We are pleased to be recognised by PRCI for carefully crafting public relations and brand strategies that add delightful dynamism to the communication and the manner in which BPCL mingles with the world. We are at the cusp of a transformation that defines our future, as we metamorphose from a predominantly oil & gas company into an ‘energy’ company. Through our communication, we have developed the narrative unfolding our strategic vision for the future, evolving new-age energy solutions.”
Commenting on the big win, BPCL director of finance with additional charge of C&MD and director HR VRK Gupta said, “At Bharat Petroleum, it is our solemn endeavour to leverage PR to communicate in a reliable and transparent manner. All our activities, offerings, and customer-centric solutions underpin our core purpose of “energising lives” in various ways. With the energy landscape undergoing transformation, we have been engaging with energy-engaged citizens and sharing our views, initiatives, and plans on energy transition, technological evolution, sustainability, social initiatives, and much more. I am happy that our sincere efforts in this direction have been recognised once again with the coveted ‘Hall of Fame’ award by a premier organisation, the Public Relations Council of India. Thank you everyone for partnering with us in achieving this feat.”
BPCL director of marketing Sukhmal Jain added, “Steadfastly anchored to the energy needs of the nation and aligned with global climate action, we have embarked upon an ambitious voyage of energy transition towards a cleaner and sustainable future. It is the solemn endeavour of our communication team to share vital information in the public domain on our customer centricity, network expanse, energy transition, technological evolution, sustainability, social initiatives, and much more, in a reliable and transparent manner. I am happy that our sincere efforts in this direction have been recognised once again with a flurry of awards by a premier organisation, the Public Relations Council of India.”
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
