Brands
Fevicol sticks its name on Mumbai metro station in branding coup
MUMBAI, 13 March 2025 – In a brilliantly adhesive marketing move, Pidilite Industries has slapped its iconic Fevicol brand onto Marol Naka Metro Station, permanently bonding itself to one of Mumbai’s busiest commuter hubs.
The station, now officially dubbed Fevicol Marol Naka, marks the first time the adhesive giant has glued its name to public infrastructure, creating an unmissable presence in a location that sees millions of Mumbaikars pass through its gates daily.
The rebrand coincides with what would have been the 101st birthday of Pidilite’s founder, the late Balvantray Kalyanji Parekh, whose first manufacturing facility stood a stone’s throw from the station – a connection that company bigwigs were keen to cement.
“At Pidilite, we believe in building lasting bonds,” said managing director Bharat Puri in what must surely rank as the most on-brand statement ever delivered. “This initiative brings immense pride to our employees who frequent this station daily.”
The station makeover, which reportedly cost Pidilite a packet that would make even Mumbai’s eye-watering property prices look reasonable, includes playful artwork featuring the brand’s legendary humorous advertisements that have stuck in the nation’s collective consciousness for decades.
For commuters accustomed to Mumbai’s famously packed trains, the irony of being sandwiched together in carriages sponsored by the country’s most famous adhesive won’t be lost.
Madison’s outdoor media specialists MOMS orchestrated the deal, with CEO Jayesh Yagnik noting that metro stations offer brands “an effective and meaningful targeted audience.”
Times OOH – which is the the sole concessionaire of Mumbai Metro Line1 – COO Rohit Chopra was quite cock-a-hoop about the station branding. Said he: “ Times OOH is committed to delivering impactful brand experiences through high-visibility transit media solutions. We are confident that this station will prove to be a valuable addition to the brand’s marketing initiatives.”
Industry insiders suggest this high-visibility gambit could trigger a rush of copycat deals, as brands scramble to paste their identities onto Mumbai’s expanding metro network before the best stations are taken. Chopra is surely going find himself busy fielding proposals.
For now, Fevicol has ensured that its relationship with Mumbai’s commuters will be exactly what its products promise: impossible to separate.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
