July to September 2022

This is the fourth bulletin since we started giving quarterly updates last Oct. Through the year there has been a sustained hope that the offices would open and we would have many activities and events. Sadly, we still continue to work from home. Employees are certainly slowly returning to offices, but that is in very small numbers. The reason is the infra work going along the roads for laying of Metro Rail pillars and underground cabling of HT wires. Our activity schedule is hence still at a low key and on-line.

I shall once again make the appeal to all employees of HIA member companies. To make every Bulletin an interesting and entertaining read, I shall request the Centre Heads, Senior Staff, Middle Managers, Junior Managers, Freshers and everyone else in the companies to kindly contribute in some way to this effort through small written stories, ideas, experiences and other articles related to our industry and its workforce.

Happy Reading!!!!!!!

The Period Jul to Sep 2022

HIA MC Meetings and Members Meeting: Managing Committee Monthly meetings were held on 20th Jul, 18th Aug and 21st Sep 2022. The Annual General Meeting for the year 2021-22 was held at Hilton Garden Inn on 24th Aug 2022.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for FY 2021-22 : The Annual General Meeting of HIA was held on 24 Aug 2022 at Hilton Garden Inn Hinjawadi. It was after two years that the AGM was held at a venue. Due to COVID-19, AGMs in 2020 and 2021 were held on-line.

The AGM started with the Welcome Address of President HIA. Dr Satish Pai President HIA, welcomed the members to the AGM and emphasised that despite the restrictions imposed by COVID, HIA was able to achieve many of its stated goals and this was possible only due to contributions from member companies. He thanked the members for their sincere efforts and contribution.

Dr Pai then handed over the proceedings to Col Charanjeet Singh Bhogal, COO. Col Charanjeet Singh Bhogal, COO gave a brief about the changes in membership and the various meetings held by the Managing Committee and various Sub Committees of HIA as also the meetings held with the Govt officials. He highlighted that the meetings always had adequate representation of HIA Committee members.

Passing of Reports by the Members. Various reports like the MOM of previous AGM, Annual Report for FY 2021-22, Audited Statement of Accounts were passed by the House.

Election for the New Managing Committee – 2022-2024.

The Managing Committee having completed two years, there was a requirement of holding elections for the new Managing Committee for the duration 2022-2024.. Cdr Jayant Konde from Persistent Systems was appointed Returning Officer for conduct of elections, by the Managing Committee during the meeting in Jul 2022.

There were no contests for the posts except for the position of Secretary HIA. Accordingly, elections were held for the position of Secretary through the process of Ballot papers. The two contestants for the position were:-

  • Lt Col Yogesh Joshi from Wipro
  • Mr. Sunil Peshwani, from Pesh Infotech

Lt Col Joshi bagged 23 votes against 08 by Mr Peshwani and was declared elected as Secretary HIA.

Cdr Jayant Konde, Returning Officer then read out the names of the new Managing Committee as under:-

  • President: Mr Krishnan Subramanian, Infosys
  • Vice President: Mr Unmesh Bhathija, Websym
  • Secretary: Lt Col Yogesh Joshi, Wipro
  • Treasurer: Mr Adhiraj Gadgil, Harbinger Group
  • Member: Mr Nachiket Anvekar, TTL
  • Member: Ms Mallika Chatterji, Cognizant
  • Member: Mr Nitinchandra Shende, Persistent Systems

The outgoing President Dr Satish Pai welcomed the incoming Managing Committee and enthused the elected members to continue the good work. He wished them success in undertaking new initiatives over the next two years.

The incoming President Mr Krishnan Subramanian then thanked the outgoing Managing Committee members for their dedicated work over the past two years. He complimented them on the excellent work done by HIA under their guidance.

Highlights of Sub Committees: The work done by various sub committees was highlighted for information of the members.

Presentation of Mementos: Towards the end of the event, mementos were presented to the members of outgoing Managing Committee as also a few office bearers and Chairpersons of Committees who had exited various committees during COVID and due to which they could not be felicitated earlier.

Open House. After formal presentations were completed, the house was thrown open for questions and members raised and discussed many current issues of HIA. There were good suggestions that came from the members on various aspects facing all members at HIA.

Vote of Thanks In the end, Mr Samir Gadgil, outgoing Secretary HIA while delivering the Vote of Thanks acknowledged the contribution of all sub committees and member companies and thanked all participants for their valuable inputs. Mr Samir Gadgil thanked the outgoing Committee members for the support received as Secretary and also Col Bhogal, COO HIA and Col Salkar, Deputy Head of Operations, HIA for their sincere, dedicated work at all times.

Drinks and Dinner. The bar and dinner were then opened to the members and the sumptuous spread was enjoyed by all over informal interactions.

Some pics from the event…….

April to June 2022

As we release the third Quarterly Bulletin, we are still not fully operating from offices. Though the COVID situation has much improved, companies still prefer to Work from Home. Part of the reason is the infra work going along the roads for laying of Metro Rail pillars and underground cabling of HT wires. Our activity schedule is hence still at a low key and on-line.

I shall once again make the appeal I made in the first two bulletins. To make every Bulletin an interesting and entertaining read, I shall request the Centre Heads, Senior Staff, Middle Managers, Junior Managers, Freshers and everyone else in the companies to kindly contribute in some way to this effort through small written stories, ideas, experiences and other articles related to our industry and its workforce.

Happy Reading!!!!!!!

The Period April to June 2022:

HIA MC Meetings and Members Meeting:

Meeting with CMD PMPML A meeting with Mr Laxminarayan Mishra CMD PMPML and his team was held on 07 Apr 2022 at 12 noon. HIA was well represented by the Transport Operations Committee (TOC) and representatives from many member companies. Few other Industry Associations also attended the meeting. There was lot of exchange of ideas over two hours and many new suggestions were made for improvement of PMPML services in RGIP.

Points Discussed:

(a) Requirements of HIA member companies were put forth :-

  • (i)PMPML service to Ascendas Enclave for employees of companies located there.
  • (ii) Shuttle service from SEZ Circle to Ascendas Enclave in Phase-III.
  • (iii) Improved bus services to RGIP from all over Pune.
  • (b) Buses on Contract to Companies. PMPML is keen to provide its fleet of electric buses for timely, economical and comfortable services to all commercial and industrial corporations / companies across the region for ferrying the employees / staff members. The buses available are 12-meter buses and 9-meter buses with seating capacity of 32/36.

    (c) It was also clarified by CMD PMPML that they have pool of about 300 Electric buses and are in process of acquiring another 300 buses. All electric buses are AC by default thus provide a very comfortable ride. PMPML is looking forward to introducing cab segment EVs for travel within the city.

    (d)Launching of User-Friendly App. An app for booking, tracking etc is being launched on 17 Apr for citizens. This would be useful for employees as well.

    (e) Celebration of Bus Day. Bus Day is being celebrated on 18 Apr 2022.Everyone is encouraged to undertake a bus ride on this day. All member companies’ employees were encouraged to commute by buses on 18th Apr 2022.

    Actions By Companies: Companies are being encouraged to provide the data of employees wanting to utilise the PMPML Electric Vehicle services. The meeting was concluded with sumptuous lunch organised by PMPML authorities.

    Some pics from the event…….



Sub Committee News – Apr – Jun 2022

Infra Committee News.

A recee to ascertain progress of all pending infra projects was carried out on 05Apr 2022. Brief of the Report of the Recce is placed beneath.

Only PMRDA and Metro rail reps were present along with HIA team. Hence a preliminary meeting was held at HIA Office followed by a recce over New Alternate Road patches of concern, where land acquisition is still an issue. PWD road widening work at Sus village was also visited.

Few points that emerged are as under:-

(a) New Alternate Road (PMRDA).

  • (i) The Thacker family court case still prevents work being undertaken on the Mann- New Bridge stretch of road.
  • (ii) Three stretches on road Shedge Wasti – MIDC Circle are still being acquired. Work can be undertaken by MIDC after this is resolved by PMRDA. This is still WIP.
  • (iii)No progress on road acquisition from Mercedes Benz Showroom to Shedge Wasti.
  • (iv) No progress on 18m wide PMC road due to land acquisition issues.
  • The new contracts areeffective from 01 Apr 2022.

    (b)Road MIDC Circle – Nande Village (PMRDA). The property card matter is still in progress and work will start after the same are received. PMRDA is seized of this matter and taking action.

    (c)Widening of Road from Wipro Phase 2 to Infosys Phase 2 (MIDC). This is progressing as per schedule and is being undertaken wherever the trenches have been filled after laying the cables. This work should complete before monsoons.

    (d) PCMC.

    • (i) Widening of road Kaspate Chowk – Wakad Chowk – IOC Chowk is WIP. Needs to be completed faster.
    • (ii)IOC Circle work started yesterday with marking being undertaken.
    • (iii)Updates on other roads viz Kasturi Chowk, Kasturi- Shivaji Chowk are not available. No work happening on ground.
    • (e) PWD.

      • (i)Work of widening road near Sus crematorium is progress and proceeding well.
      • (ii)No updates on widening of GhotavadePhata- Ghotavade village road and Nande vill. No work on ground.
      • (iii)No update on widening of road Mhalunge to Shedge Wasti.
      • (f)Metro Rail.The HT pylons were to be dismantled by 31 Mar 2022 as per recce report of 09 Mar 2022. However the latest status is as under:-

        • (i) The pylons will be dismantled after MSEDCL has given power to the new cables.
        • (ii)As of now Shut Down has not been given by MSEDCL.
        • (iii)The power would be given upto point PMR 3 ( near Infosys Phase 2) by 15 Apr 2022. HT pylons till this point would be dismantled by 30 Apr.
        • (iv)Power beyond PMR 3 ( Infy Phase 2) would be done thereafter – probably by May end.
        • Further Recce. In view of lack of attendance for recce by agencies as also slow / no progress on ground, it is futile to conduct fortnightly ground recce. Instead, it was felt that a fortnightly update on mail by all agencies followed by monthly update meeting at HIA would be more productive. This would keep everyone updated and agencies could work on ground at best speed possible within all their constraints.