CMO to have a Thane branch, to avoid crowds in Shinde’s home
Officials from the chief minister’s office (CMO) said there is overcrowding by visitors at his residence when he visits Thane every week, necessitating the need for a full-fledged office there. Visitors’ vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner along the roads, which creates trouble for residents of adjoining buildings
MUMBAI: Chief minister Eknath Shinde is all set to open a second office in his home base, Thane, the suburb from where he started his political career as a corporator in the early ’90s. He will be the first chief minister to have an extension of the CM secretariat in his hometown.
Insiders say Shinde’s office will be located on the fourth floor of Kashish Park Complex on LBS Road, close to his residence at Louiswadi, Thane. The premises is owned by Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), which has already issued a tender for office furniture and other allied services such computerization and electrical fixtures. The civic body recently built a small access road here and also widened the thoroughfare in the vicinity by removing encroachment.
Officials from the chief minister’s office (CMO) said there is overcrowding by visitors at his residence when he visits Thane every week, necessitating the need for a full-fledged office there. Visitors’ vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner along the roads, which creates trouble for residents of adjoining buildings.
After becoming chief minister, Shinde moved to the CM’s official bungalow, Varsha, at Malabar Hill, but stays at his Thane home two to three times a week. His son Shrikant, the MP from the Kalyan constituency, has also shifted to Varsha.
{{/usCountry}}After becoming chief minister, Shinde moved to the CM’s official bungalow, Varsha, at Malabar Hill, but stays at his Thane home two to three times a week. His son Shrikant, the MP from the Kalyan constituency, has also shifted to Varsha.
{{/usCountry}}“The CM is a workaholic and believes in meeting people. He works long hours. There is always a crowd of visitors who try to enter his personal space. This will be his office when he comes to Thane to deal with local issues,” said a spokesperson for Shinde.
{{/usCountry}}“The CM is a workaholic and believes in meeting people. He works long hours. There is always a crowd of visitors who try to enter his personal space. This will be his office when he comes to Thane to deal with local issues,” said a spokesperson for Shinde.
{{/usCountry}}While Thane municipal commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, was not available to speak about the plans ahead, Naresh Mhaske, spokesperson for Shiv Sena denied that such a plan was on the anvil, dismissing it as “an office of cluster development of TMC”. The civic body’s city engineer PP Sonagra, who issued the tender, also refused to comment on the matter.
{{/usCountry}}While Thane municipal commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, was not available to speak about the plans ahead, Naresh Mhaske, spokesperson for Shiv Sena denied that such a plan was on the anvil, dismissing it as “an office of cluster development of TMC”. The civic body’s city engineer PP Sonagra, who issued the tender, also refused to comment on the matter.
{{/usCountry}}Thane MP Rajan Vichare, from Shiv Sena (UBT), called it a “sheer waste of money”. “I believe TMC is spending ₹4.5 crore on furniture. He is using late Anand Dighe’s residence for his party work and his staff sits there. Why is TMC spending money for his office? The Shindes have already taken over a government bungalow for his party headquarter and two bungalows at Malabar Hill for his party work. The CM is trying to have a mini Mantralaya in Thane.”
Meanwhile, historically, Thane has been Shinde’s stronghold. Since taking over as CM, Shinde has launched various infrastructure projects to improve Thane city – he has sanctioned two coastal roads, a bridge at Teen Haath Naka, metro connectivity, water transport and widening the Kopri bridge.
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