Pune: It was an amusing scene for local residents of Sangamwadi and Sadalbaba Darga area who got to watch some high political drama being played out in front of them on Wednesday.
The inauguration of the much-delayed Sadalbaba-Sangamwadi road was finally carried out, not once but twice, that too in a span of two-and-a-half hours.
First at 7.30 am, Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal with MLA Anil Bhosale, Vandana Chavan and other NCP workers hurriedly rushed to the Sadalbaba Chowk to cut the ribbon, as BJP leaders had threatened an agitation if the road was not opened soon. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was supposed to inaugurate the road.
Later around 10 am, BJP leader Vikas Mathkari, local corporator Sanjay Bhosale, Shiv Sena leader Bhausaheb Kapdi and over 100 party workers gathered on the same spot and inaugurated the road again.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had spent Rs 43 crore to lay the road. It was completed four months ago, and local people had started using the road.
Ashok Pawar, a resident of Sadalbaba Darga, said it was a political gimmick.
He said traffic lights had still not been installed on the road and the cabling work for the streetlights were yet to be completed.
"We understand that the PMC elections are coming and that is why the whole tamasha by the ruling and opposition parties to impress voters," Pawar said. "People are not fools and can not be taken for granted."
The two-km long road with 100-feet width connects Khadki, Deccan College and Yerawada.
The ruling NCP-Congress wants to take the credit for laying the road, whereas local BJP corporator Sanjay Bhosale said it was owing to his efforts that the road was laid.
"The inauguration of the road was unnecessarily delayed by the NCP leaders and finally we decided to stage an agitation. To stop the agitation, the Mayor came forward and unveiled the road plaque so that his party can take credit for it," Bhosale said.
"We were also ready and our leader Mathkari inaugurated the road."
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