It was declared as sick and liquidated in 2013 citing fall in productivity and Jessop trade unions had denied accepting productivity-linked wage or halving the number of workers in the factory offered by the Ruia group management to keep the company going. [3]
History
Jessop & Company Limited is India's oldest engineering company, established in 1788.[4]
The history of Jessop & Co. Ltd goes back to year 1788 when Breen & Company was founded in Calcutta. In 1820, Henry and George, sons of William Jessop acquired Breen & Company on behalf of Butterley Company, which was established by William Jessop in Derbyshire. These two companies were merged in 1820 to be renamed as Jessop & Company.[1][5] The company, during British Raj was a large engineering giant having its head office at 63, Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata and large manufacturing facilities spread over 63 acres at Dum Dum.[6]
In 2003 the Government of India divested its stake in Jessop & Co. Ltd under privatization programme and sold its 72% stake to Ruia group owned by Pawan Kumar Ruia, who turned it into a profit making entity.[8][9]
Achievements
Jessop & Co Limited is accredited to have built the first iron bridge in British India over River Gomti, popularly known as Loha-ka-Pul at Lucknow built during year 1815-1840. It was ordered by Nawab of Oudh[4][6][10] Jessop's has also built one steam locomotive, delivered to the Nawab of Oudh in the 19th century[5]
The first steam boat to sail on Indian waters made in India was made by Jessop & Co. in 1819.[11] In 1890 it rolled out the first steam road roller for India.[11] It was also one of the pioneers to make heavy duty cranes.
The company's net worth eroded over the years and losses mounted into several hundred crores of rupees, as a public sector company. In 2003 the Government of India divested its stake in Jessop & Co. Ltd under the privatisation programme and sold its 72% stake to the Ruia group owned by Pawan Kumar Ruia, who turned it into a profit-making entity.[8][9] The sale of government share was objected to by staff but the High Court later cleared the deal.[13]
The huge building and company headquarters since 1788 in the heart of the city near B. B. D. Bagh at 63, Netaji Subhas Road[14] was, however, taken over by the Government of West Bengal as the company did not have funds to pay its dues to the state. The company now operates from its works at 1, Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata.
Today, Jessop manufactures railway coaches and wagons, cranes, road rollers and hydraulic equipment.[6] It is the only company in Asia which has an integrated test facility for testing power roof support and hydraulic items.[5][6]
References
^ abc"Jessop & Co Ltd". www.jessop.co.in. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
^Public Enterprises Survey. Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Public Enterprises. 1994. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2023.