VIP movement on rise after regime change

After the BJP-SS government took over in the state, several ministers from the state and the centre, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — who has visited twice — have been making a beeline for Pune. Weekend visits of central and state ministers to the city are also increasing and there have even been 100 VIP visits registered in a month. President Pranab Mukherjee was among the august visitors to the city.The figures were furnished by the protocol department.

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“There is definitely an increase in VIP movement. There were 900 visits in 2013. In 2014, being the election year, there were about 1,200 VIP visits. Post October, there was a good number of VIP visits to Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad by ministers of the new government,” said senior protocol officials at the Mantralaya. With a budgetary allocation of Rs 8-9 crore, the department that takes care of vehicles, petrol and other requirements for VIP visits said the amount is distributed as per requirement.

Ministers who have roots in the city, including Pune guardian minister and Girish Bapat, Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar, Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble and Minister of State for Water Conservation, Vijay Shivtare pay visits to the city especially on weekends.

“The ministers hailing from Pune have to visit the city,” said some of the officials.

There were at least 1200 VIP visits last year (2014) and it included three visits by the President, two by vice-president, 37 visits of former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and other ministers. 1000 of the VIP visits had come during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

After the BJP-Shiv Sena government took charge, VIP movement to the city not diminished.

“There are visits by ministers as the new government has taken over from the DF government after 15 years and ministers have to travel to understand issues that Puneiites face. The protocol department provides vehicles to VIPs…,” said a senior protocol officer.

Rs 93-lakh bill for swearing-in ceremony at Wankhede still unpaid: Protocol dept

The new government spent Rs 93 lakh on the swearing-in ceremony of the CM and some other cabinet colleagues. As per details available with the protocol department, the bills are yet to be paid.

“The bill for the swearing-in ceremony at Wankhede stadium has been forwarded to the finance department,’’ said an officer.

Maharashtra’s 27th chief minister was sworn in at a ceremony in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and the function was witnessed by over 30,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, top Bollywood actors and other eminent people.