Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Thursday in Mumbai unveiled the statue of JRD Tata, founder of Tata Airlines, to mark his birth centenary celebrations.

A large gathering, despite heavy rains, cheered the minister who unveiled the seven-feet three-inch statue made of fibre-glass at old airport premises of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.

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J J Irani, Director of Tata Sons, Union Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad, Air-India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas and former director (engineering) of Air-India M S Balasubramanium were among those present on the occasion.