Activists join hands against Metro proposal

“The main purpose of the Abhiyan is to create public awareness about the metro proposal so that people understand what is being planned and what will be the impact. This would help them form a considered opinion and decide whether they want the metro as planned in the present format,” Inamdar said.

Among other things,the activists plan to to conduct mass awareness campaigns like workshops for volunteers who would further hold meetings in their neighbourhoods/organisations/offices/ institutions,to empower citizens to give presentations regarding the metro proposal. A citizen-friendly power point presentation capsules has been prepared to launch a mass signature campaign for citizens who wish to object to the project and to interact and correspond with elected representatives,political leaders,central,state and local administration and impress upon them the problems in the present metro proposal. “We are holding the first unique Pune Metro citizen orientation workshop on Monday between 6 pm and 7.30 pm at Moolgavkar Hall,ICC Centre,Senapati Bapat Road. We are holding the workshop in association with Janwani,” Inamdar said.

Among the main demands of the Abhiyan are that the government should not give approval to the present Pune Metro plan,the PMC should not float any tenders or award work orders for metro in its present form. Independent appraisal and scrutiny of DMRC report should be done by technical experts with active participation of citizen groups,formation of Pune Metro Citizen Committee comprising of experts,citizen groups,and PMC officers,public meetings (similar to Lok Adalat) should be organised by PMC and civic officers should answer all questions and doubts put forth by citizens,integrated master plan for traffic and transportation for Pune Metropolitan Region (PMC,PCMC) should be prepared considering various mobility options and transport modes before taking any decision in the matter of mass transport systems like Metro final decision should be taken only in consultation with the public.

Abhiyandemands
* The government should not approve the project plan in its present form
* The PMC should not float any tenders or award work orders for project in its present form
* Technical experts should do independent appraisal and scrutiny of DMRC report
* Formation of Pune Metro Citizen Committee
* PMC should organise public meetings and civic officers should answers queries from citizens and clear their doubts
* An integrated master plan for traffic and transportation for Pune Metropolitan Region