Settlement agreement reached with Pune Metro Rail Project

On 18 June 2024, the parties to a dispute resolution process in India successfully reached an agreement. The collaborative dialogue, facilitated by the Complaints Mechanism of the EIB Group, addressed concerns raised in a complaint from a group of fruit vendors regarding the Pune Metro Rail Project. The key points of the reached settlement agreement are as follows:

• Mutual satisfaction: both the project promoter, Maha Metro, and the group of fruit vendors expressed satisfaction with the terms of the settlement.
• Confidentiality: the parties decided to keep the details of the agreement confidential.
• Ongoing monitoring: the Complaints Mechanism will continue to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

The dispute arose following the eviction of the fruit vendors due to Pune Metro construction works. In March 2022, the Complaints Mechanism finalised its initial assessment and recommended proceeding with dispute resolution. Maha Metro and the vendors constructively engaged in the facilitated dialogue, working together to find acceptable solutions.

The EIB project team played a crucial role by providing support and guidance to Maha Metro, ensuring compliance with the EIB social and environmental standards.

The Complaints Mechanism thanks all parties involved for their contribution to reaching this important settlement and is proud to have coordinated this process leading to a mutually accepted solution that addresses the concerns of the complainants.

The Complaints Mechanism serves as a public accountability tool of the EIB Group. It actively engages with citizens who express concerns about EIB Group projects, policies or activities. The Complaints Mechanism operates through two key approaches: collaborative dispute resolution and compliance review. Through collaborative dispute resolution it facilitates dialogue among disputing parties, helping them reach beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders. More information about the dispute resolution work of the Complaints Mechanism of the EIB Group can be found at: https://www.eib.org/en/readonline-publications/eib-group-dispute-resolution.