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.
Shinde has had a discussion with director general of police Rajneesh Sheth and Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and issued directions. Since coming to power, he has tried to shed the trappings of power and present himself as a common man in response to former CM Uddhav Thackeray's barbs about his past as an autorickshaw driver.
However, ditching security protocols is easier said than done. Sources said a few months ago, a senior DG rank officer was asked to travel by his official car instead of commuting by train on the advice of intelligence agencies. The officer was reminded that it is not the person that matters but the position he or she holds, which needs to be protected.
In his orders, Shinde said, "Whenever the chief minister travels, traffic police on the route ensures smooth and swift passage of his convoy. This leaves behind a huge traffic jam and commuters have to face a harrowing time due to the VVIP movement. Hence, no special protocol should be provided to the chief minister's convoy."
"Do not stop traffic. Reduce bandobast on the chief minister's travel route," he told senior police officers. "As the CM of the state I will have to travel a lot and traffic is stopped all the time, it will inconvenience the common man. Sometimes, ambulances also get stuck...to avoid unwanted trouble to the public I have decided to do away with special protocol for my convoy," said Shinde.
The new CM took oath on June 30. Shinde who belongs to Thane regularly travels between Mantralaya and his constituency. On Thursday, after a meeting at the state guest house in Malabar Hill, he was seen asking police to clear the traffic held up for his convoy to pass.
