Pune : Unplanned Change in Amit Shah’s Visit To Salisbury Park Disrupts Traffic on Pune Satara Road
PUNE: A whirlwind of changes surrounded the anticipated visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Pune, leading to unexpected traffic snarls on Satara Road. The scheduled program took an unforeseen turn, prompting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to hastily alter their plans and rush to the scene due to illness of a family member.
The unfolding saga began as Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s planned visit to Pune underwent a sudden transformation, sparking a series of rapid administrative adjustments. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, found themselves mobilized to respond to the evolving situation.
Many netizens took to Twitter to tweet their frustration about being trapped in the slow moving traffic at many places in the city.
While it holds true that Amit Shah arrived in Pune on Saturday evening, the entire timeline experienced a shift. Shah’s expected appearance at eight o’clock in the evening on Saturday was pre-empted by an earlier landing at Lohgaon airport around 7:30 pm. Consequently, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and others had to curtail their existing commitments and make their way to the airport to receive the Home Minister. Notable figures such as Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, State Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai, and State BJP President Chandrasekhar Bawankule were also present to welcome Shah.
The alteration in Amit Shah’s travel arrangements caused a cascade of adjustments throughout the schedule. Chief Minister Shinde, originally intending to reach Lohgaon airport at 6:30 pm and then proceed to a hotel, found himself staying at the airport due to the modified plan. Additionally, the presence of Chandrakant Patil, along with a scheduled musical worship event at Noo ma vi School on Bajirao Road at 5:30 pm, faced deviations as Patil arrived at the location around 5:00 pm. Following a brief stay, he swiftly redirected his path towards the airport.
The ramifications of the shifting visit extended beyond just the political sphere. The administration had to swiftly accommodate the changes in Shah’s itinerary. As Amit Shah’s route was set to encompass the Salisbury Park area, heightened police presence characterized various points along Satara Road. Temporary traffic halts were enacted to facilitate Shah’s convoy passage, inadvertently causing congestion during the evening rush from Swargate onwards, affecting not only Satara Road but also the surrounding thoroughfares.
In the ever-evolving landscape of high-profile visits, this instance serves as a poignant reminder of the intricacies and repercussions that follow even the slightest deviation from the original plan.
Madhupriya Dhanwate
