Builders' Association of India
Southern CentreBuilders' Association of India
Southern CentrePlot A1, 1st Main Road,
Opp. to AIEMA, Industrial Estate,Ambattur,
Chennai – 600 058.
© BAI
Hon’ble Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu hoisted the Builders’ Association India Platinum Jubilee Flag to commence the Celebration in front of the Convention Hall at Chennai Trade Centre is the presence of Mr. Avanish M. Patil - BAI President, Bhsihma R. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Committee, Mr. A. S. Chinnaswamy Raju, Mr. B. Seenaiah – All India Past Presidents, Mr. K. Venkatesan, Chairman, Southern Centre – BAI and other Office Bearers of Head Quarters and Southern Centre. This Historic Event has been witnessed by hundreds of our members who converged at the trade centre.
Then Hon’ble Minister Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu was taken to the VIP lounge, where our Senior Members like K. Sriram of Mysore Centre, our Mr. Neerav Parmar - All India Gen. Treasure, Mr. Ramacharan, Mr. B. Seenaiah – All India Past Presidents had dialogue with Hon’ble Minister regarding various problems facing the Construction Industry, Hon’ble Minister kind enough to listen patiently and assured that he would try to redress the problem.
At 08.55 am, the Concluding Celebrations of Platinum Jubilee Inaugural function has been started in convention hall with invocation song Mr. K. Venkatesan, Chairman – Southern Centre delivered the welcome address. In his welcome address he profusely thanked the chief guest and other dignitaries for sparing their the valuable time and participating in the historic function of Builders’ Association of India. He specially thanked the Hon’ble Minister shri. M. Venakaiah Naidu for sparing his valuable time in spite of busy schedule in New Delhi. He elaborated about the History of Southern Centre and thanked the Builders’ Association of India in particular the President and Managing Committee for giving the opportunity of organising the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations for the southern centre and he has brought to notice of the Hon’ble Minister that the southern centre is the largest centre in India having 2200 members and 65years old centre.
After the welcome address of the chairman lighting of the traditional lamp (KuthuVilakku) was carried by trhe chief guest Hon’ble Minister, Mr. S.N. Subrahmaniyan – Deputy Managing Director, L&T Constructions, All India Past Presidents – Shri. A. S. Chinnaswamy Raju, Bhishma R. Radhakrishnan, Shri. B. Seenaiah and other dignitaries of Head Quarters / Southern Centre.
Mr. Avanish M. Patil has delivered the presidential address. In his address he elaborated about the role played by the construction Industry for the development of our country by providing the Infrastructure facilities like Roads, Bridges, Railways, Irrigation Projects, Airports, Sea ports and etc. He has also mentioned about the construction Industry’s contribution towards providing housing for the society in large. He also mentioned Construction Industry is the Second Largest Industry in providing maximum employment for the workers second to agriculture. He has elaborated that construction Industry is playing a major role in economic growth by contributing maximum to the GDP growth for the country.
Mrs. B. Radhika Chakaravarthy – Chief Post Master General, Chennai City Region has released Special Cover & Stamp to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Builders’ Association of India. Hon’ble Minister Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu received the special postal cover & stamp and handed over to our Senior Past President Mr. A. S. Chinnaswamy Raju. This historic event of releasing the special postal cover & Stamp to commemorate the celebration is the first of its kind in history of Builders’ Association of India. We all should feel proud for this historic event. Here we want to mention the untiring effort of Mr. V.S.B. Sunder, Chairman – Image Building Committee.
Bhishma R. Radhakrishnan, Chairman – All India Platinum Jubilee Celebration Committee addressed the gathering about the journey of Builders’ Association of India and its glorious existence of 75 years and never ending journey of excellence. He has elaborated the origination of the Institution from 1941 at Pune with the advice of Brg. Jackson, a British Engineer in the defence department.
The body was started with 13 members and today we are proud to have more than one lakh direct & indirect members, having 160 centres through length and breadth of the country. This is the only trade body has distinction of having Celebration of Platinum Jubilee. In his address he have saluted the sculptor who made it possible with their dedicated involvement to mention very few like Mr. S. J. Sha, Mr. R.J. Gandhi, Mr. Amarjit Singh choudary, Mr. NeelakandaIyer, Mr. M.N. Rajaraman, Mr. S.A.N.RaganathaAchar, Mr. Ajit Gulab Chand, Dr. T.L. Subarao, Mr. A.S. Chinnaswamy Raju, Mr. C.L. Varma, Dr.BrahmDutt etc. He has special mentioned about the Panelist who have helped him in bringing out the history book. The Panleist are Mr. D.L. Desai ( Shakar Bhai), Mr. J.R. Sethuramalingam, Mr. L. Venkatesan, and Dr. D. Thukkaram. In his address he has profusely thanked Hon’ble Minister Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu who has accepted to be the chief guest and to release this history book with his golden hands. Hon’ble Minister flown to Chennai by charted flight to attend this function. His gracious enough to be here from 08.00am. Though the breakfast was arranged in VIP Longue, he has expressed his desire to have breakfast with other members. This shows his simplicity which has been appreciated by one and all who has participated in the function. Before concluding Bhishma R. Radhkrishnan emotionally thanked for the wonderful opportunity given to him to be the Chairman of this great event by the Immediate Past President Mr. Lal Chand Sharma and Managing Committee. Then Hon’ble Minister released the journey book. The first copy has been received by Mr. B. Seenaiah, All India Past President – BAI.
Both of them were honoured with shawl, garland and adorned with turban (Creedam) by Hon’ble Minster Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Senior Past President Mr. A.S. Chinnaswamy Raju , Mr. K. Venkatesan, Chairman- Southern Centre. A Citation was read and presented to both the Awardees. A Shield engraved with a name of NirmanRathna, SevaRathna respectively with their photos in the Silver plate as also been presented. A gold jewel with medal engraved the name of SevaRathna has been adorned by Shri. M. Karthikeyen - All India Past President and Trustee to Bhishma R. Radhakrishnan on behalf of Platinum Jubilee Celebration Committee.
After a hectic business session in the morning, it was time to enjoy the platinum jubilee celebrations with a bang and a cultural programme was organised which lasted an hour.
After the rendering of the “Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu”, Sri.K.Venkatesan chairman of the Organising Committee welcomed the gathering for the evening session. There was a special warm welcome for Shri.M.Tirusangu, State Chairman, Tamilnadu and Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar.
It was then the turn of Sri.Mu.Moahan, All India Vice President to honour all the past presidents of BAI.
President Sri.AvinashPatil released the special souvenir brought out to mark this historic occasion of the Platinum Jubilee and the first copy was received by Sri.Mouhan, Vice President. He extended his full praise to Sri.L.Shanthakumar, Chairman of the Sourvenir Committee ably assisted by Sri.P.K.P Narayanan and Sri.K.K.Chowduryfor his unstinted efforts to bring it out in record time and for getting maximum ad revenue also.
He also honoured the office bearers of the Head Quarters and conferred awards to them. Mementoes were also given to Master Builders for their support in printing the “Journey Book” released in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.Special thanks was extended to Popular Historian Sri.V.Sriram for his guidance in bringing out the Journey Book.
Finally the vote of thanks was proposed by Sri. S.Ramaprabhu.
First of all he thanked the Organising committee consisting of Sri.K.Ramanujam as Chairman and Sri.J.R.Sethuramalingam and Sri.R.Sivakumar as C0-chairmen for their wonderful and sincere work in organising such a grand event.
He then extended thanks to the Accommodation committee of Sri.O.K.Selvaraj,Sri.J.TajudinandSri.SaravanaPerumal for being gracious hosts in ensuring smooth accommodation and registrations at the Hotel Crown Plaza.
A special word of appreciation was given to Sri.J.Nirmalchand, Sri.T.M.S.Sivakumar, Sri.R.Nimrod and Sri.G.Divakaras members of the Food & Hospitality Committee for the excellent and tasty food provided to all the delegates during the 3 days of the celebrations. Sri.L.Venkatesan came in for encomiums from one and all for the exquisite stage and floor arrangement and management which was of international standards.
The image building for the entire fraternity was looked after by the ever dynamic and efficient Sri.R.Balasubramanian for the way he ensured media coverage and public relations and reaching out to all sections of the society, the role and the wonderful work being done by the BAI.
Even after the event messages were pouring in, appreciating the efforts of Sri.P.Ramkumar and Sri.R.Ramesh who took care of the transportation and travels.
He finally thanked all the committee members of the other committees like Reception, Gifts and mementoes, Entertainment,Fellowship etc without whose hard work behind the scenes the entire function would not have been so successful.