Despite receiving Rs 2 crores from the Pune Municipal Corporation specifically for this purpose more than 2 years ago, PMPML has failed to prepare a Business Plan. The Business Plan is supposed to have a long-term strategy, vision and goals, made with inputs from the public. It will also define the detailed roadmap of how to achieve these goals, determine the resources that will be required to implement the plan and how to improve the financial health of the company.

In February 2012 Parisar pushed the Pune Municipal Corporation to allocate a sum of Rs 2 crores in the city budget for PMPML to make a business plan. Parisar strongly felt that unless PMPML prepared a comprehensive action plan to address the structural issues in the organization and set well articulated goals, it would continue to struggle to provide good service to the citizens of the Pune Metropolitan Region. Since its formation by the merger of the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Transport companies, it has struggled to provide both the quantity and quality of the service needed.

Parisar has worked with ITDP to help PMPML draft the Request for Proposal (RFP) for appointment of a consultant to make a business plan. The RFP stresses the need for widespread public consultations to help decide a vision for PMPML and also feedback on the draft plan before it is finalized. The involvement of stakeholders is expected to create the public pressure that will be needed to ensure that the business plan is actually implemented and not just gather dust on a shelf.

Parisar also pushed for the draft RFP to be made public, so as to get comments from the public. The publication of the RFP is a critical step in ensuring transparency in the entire process, since the terms and conditions in the RFP will ultimately determine how the consultant is selected and the manner in which the business plan will be made.

Both the PMC and PMPML have published the draft RFP on its website and invited suggestions from the public. Parisar also actively sought inputs from some key stakeholders, including potential bidders. Parisar is also pushing PMPML to appoint an expert committee for the duration when the consultants will be engaged.

Media coverage:

20-year-plan to lift Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited from slump - Times of India, 03/12/2013

The Metro as the only solution to any city's transportation woes is being touted in India. Pune also, has unfortunately come under this cloud. We say unfortunate, because of the many conditions that need to be considered before such a huge decision have not been considered, and the way the Metro is being planned will leave the city in shambles. We have been consistently making our opinion heard, in the form of articles in newspapers, research papers, conducting discussions and so on. This page is a collection of all such activities, as well as resources which will be updated so that the people of the city can understand the magnitude of such a decision, and decide for themselves its utility.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) published a consultation paper on proposed fuel economy labelling and standards for the country, initially focusing on cars. The paper also invited feedback from the public, which was followed by a public consultation held in New Delhi. Parisar submitted its list of concerns and recommendations about the proposed standards. These include some procedural concerns (such as inadequate public consultations and time to respond), structural concerns (such as lack of disincentive to increasing vehicle weights) and substantial concerns (such as the current standards being too weak). Other groups attending the public consultation highlighted similar problems with the consultation paper.

Download Parisar's submission to BEE and presentation at the public consultation.