Pune: On a day when the local BJP unit has appealed citizens to participate in the Tiranga Rally to be held on FC Road on Tuesday, NCP corporator Amol Balwadkar opposed the plan, saying that the procession during the peak hours will add to the traffic congestion leaving citizens in immense hardship.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will lead the Tiranga Rally, which will start from the other end of FC Road around 4pm and will end at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue. Objecting to the route, Balwadkar said, “I am not against it but a massive rally on the busy FC Road will throw entire city traffic out of gear. The chief minister will participate in the rally with a lot of enthusiasm but commuters will suffer a lot.”BJP has appealed several citizens groups, youths, dhol-tasha troupes to participate in the rally to which Balwadkar has opposed. “BJP could have organised the event at an open ground. However, as per my information, every corporator of their party has been told to bring nearly 100 bikers. If 15,000 two-wheelers come on FC Road at a time, it will lead to chaos in the heart of the city. Pune city’s traffic situation is worsening but instead of finding a solution to it, BJP members are adding to it,” Balwadkar said.Responding to Balwadkar’s opposition, BJP Pune unit chief Dheeraj Ghate claimed that common citizens will enthusiastically participate in the rally. He said, “As part of the Independence Day celebrations, the Tiranga rallies are being organised from Aug 9 to Aug 15. The rally in Pune will be led by the chief minister on Tuesday where citizens will participate voluntarily. The young generation will seen celebrating Independence Day by participating in the rally in big numbers.”
