MAM
Otis India Elevates World’s Tallest Statue – Statue of Unity
MUMBAI: Otis India is providing the vertical transport solutions for The Statue of Unity, named the world’s tallest statue standing at a height of 182 meters, spread over 20,000 square meters. The statue will have ten Otis elevators, including the high speed Skyrise™ elevator, which will run at a speed of four meters per second (MPS). Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The massive structure, built by engineering and construction giant, Larsen & Toubro, is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and leader of independent India. Located in the state of Gujarat, it is erected on the river island called Sadhu Bet, facing the Narmada Dam.
Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India laid the statue’s foundation stone in 2013 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The iron needed for the statue and surrounding structure has been collected from 500,000 Indian farmers who donated their used farming instruments, which led to its name – Statue of Unity.
“The Statue of Unity, apart from being a symbol of national pride, is definitely a tribute to India’s engineering skills and project management abilities,” said L&T CEO & Managing Director, S N Subrahmanyan. “It is also a monumental triumph of teamwork with significant contributions from our architects, engineers, consultants and, of course, contributors of global repute like Otis. Otis has done a commendable job interfacing with L&T’s technical requirements adhering to the demanding schedule to commission the elevators on time. It has been an outstanding effort by its leadership to mobilize resources and put it all together.”
“It is an honour and a privilege for Otis to help elevate the Statue of Unity as it makes history,” said Stephane de Montlivault, president Otis Asia Pacific. “This prestigious project, adds to Otis’ long list of iconic structures that count on Otis, like the Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Brazil, Rio de Janeiro), Eiffel Tower (Paris, France), Burj Khalifa (Dubai, U.A.E), Empire State Building (New York, USA) and Petronas Twin Towers (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).”
“Statue of Unity is the nation’s pride and Otis is excited to be part of this stupendous feat.” said Sebi Joseph, president, Otis India. “We are thankful to L&T for choosing Otis to support this challenging project. Otis and L&T teams worked very closely to meet the challenging deadlines.”
The project which caters to visitors, has a public plaza overlooking the Narmada river, food stalls, laser-light and sound show, garden, hotel, convention center, amusement park, research centers, museum as well as a memorial and exhibition hall that focuses on the life and contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
MAM
PwC India announces leadership change in Deals practice
Shashank Jain steps down as co-leader after nearly three decades with the firm.
MUMBAI: When one dealmaker steps off the pitch, another is ready to take the baton because in the fast-moving world of transactions, the game never really stops. PwC India has announced a leadership transition in its Deals practice, with Shashank Jain stepping down from his role as co-leader to pursue an opportunity in the industry. The practice will continue to be led by Mohit Chopra, ensuring continuity and sustained growth momentum.
PwC India partner and leader for advisory dinesh Arora paid tribute to Jain’s contributions. “We deeply appreciate the significant contributions made by Shashank over close to three decades he has spent with PwC, particularly his defining role in shaping and strengthening our Transaction Services practice in India,” he said. Arora highlighted Jain’s support for clients through some of the most complex and significant transactions in the Indian market, noting his deep technical expertise, sound judgment and nuanced understanding of the evolving M&A landscape.
The Deals practice remains a key growth driver for PwC India, and the firm expects continued expansion under Mohit Chopra’s leadership. He will continue to guide clients through complex transactions and transformational business moments, building on the strong foundation established over the years.
Reflecting on his journey, Shashank Jain said, “I have had an exceptional journey at PwC. I owe my growth and learning to the nurturing environment and leadership development that PwC provided.” He added that he had been working closely with Mohit and the larger team to ensure a smooth transition and expressed confidence that Chopra would take the Deals practice to newer heights.
From intern to respected deals leader, Shashank Jain has clearly closed many successful transactions and now, it seems, he’s ready to strike a new deal of his own.
