MUMBAI: To prevent traffic congestion due to his road trips, chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the administration to avoid stopping other vehicles when he is on the move, a decision that is bound to raise eyebrows in the security establishment.
Officials said the CM's orders stemmed from a desire to reduce inconvenience and stoppages for the common motorist. However, not everyone is convinced by the move. Senior police officers said it was not a prudent step from a security standpoint to allow traffic to move as usual around the CM's convoy. All chief ministers have Z-plus grade security, which includes an extensive detail of vehicles and commandos for his protection. A senior officer said, "For safety and security of the CM, high level security is essential." He recalled the incident of a private car unauthorisedly breaking into the convoy of then CM Uddhav Thackeray.
