Mumbai: Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, asked Mumbai Police on Wednesday not to deploy a traffic-clearing pilot car as part of a security improvement authorised by the state's Home Department, which is headed by her husband.
Amruta Fadnavis, a banker by trade, claimed that despite Mumbai's "frustrating" traffic situation, things are going to improve as a result of state government infrastructure development initiatives.
"I'm & wish to live like a common citizen of #Mumbai I humbly request @MumbaiPolice not to provide me traffic clearance pilot vehicle. Traffic condition in Mumbai is frustrating but I'm sure, with Infra & development projects by @mieknathshinde & @Dev_Fadnavis we will soon get relief," she tweeted, tagging a report which said the state government recently allotted a 'traffic clearance vehicle' along with a security upgrade from X to Y+ with an escort to her, NDTV reported.
An escort vehicle and five police officers provide round-the-clock security as part of the upgrade to the Y+ with escort category. Such a vehicle clears traffic for the protected person while travelling, carrying out tasks like those of a pilot vehicle.
In addition to Ms Fadnavis, Mumbai Police has decided to give superstar Salman Khan Y+ security protection in response to threats made by mobster Lawrence Bishnoi and his cohorts. Salman Khan had X-category security in the past.
The actors Anupam Kher and Akshay Kumar have also been given X-category security, which means three security guards will work in shifts to keep them safe.
All 41 MLAs and 10 MPs of the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray, have just received special Y+ security clearance from Mr Fadnavis' department.
While Mr Thackeray, his ally, veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar, and their families continued to be protected, many other coalition politicians saw their coverage modified or cancelled once the new administration took office.