Mumbai, Feb 5 (IANS) Discarding security considerations as well as a waiting helicopter, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hopped into a local train Friday to travel from Andheri to Dadar, much to the delight of his co-passengers in the second class compartment.
Maximising the massive public response to his sudden Mumbai trip in the wake of Shiv Sena threats to "keep off Maharashtra", the Congress general secretary made a last minute change in his itinerary to travel from Vile Parle in western suburbs to his second engagement at Ghatkopar in the eastern suburbs.
From Bhaidas Auditorium at Juhu (in Vile Parle), Rahul Gandhi's motorcade zoomed towards the Andheri railway station, about two kilometres away, taking most people by surprise. As per the original plans, he was scheduled to fly in a helicopter.
En route, he was seen standing on the footboard of his SUV and waving to the people lined going about their routine and even shaking hands with some.
Within minutes, he reached Andheri to board a Western Railway (WR) suburban train to Dadar station in the southern direction. He travelled on the Virar-Dadar fast train in a second class compartment along with the general public, and got off 15 minutes later around 1.15 p.m. at Dadar.
He was also scheduled to catch a suburban Central Railway (CR) local train to reach Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar.
All the three stations - Andheri, Dadar and Ghatkopar - are among the most congested railway stations in the Mumbai suburban network. It is usually a nightmare even for the most diehard Mumbaikars to alight or board from trains at these stations "conquered" by Rahul Gandhi, who is in Mumbai for a short four-hour visit after which he leaves for Pondicherry.
Officials of both the WR and CR claimed ignorance of the Congress leader's travel plans and said they were not informed about it by his security personnel.
Mumbai, Feb 5 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi landed on Shiv Sena's home turf Friday amid a tight security cover that ensured a virtual curfew-like atmosphere and not a single black flag as threatened by the saffron party.
Rahul Gandhi landed at the Santa Cruz Old Airport in Juhu at about 11.20 a.m. and drove to the Bhaidas Hall, barely a kilometre away, where he was scheduled to address 1,100 college students and youth.
Waiting to receive him were Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee office-bearers, local elected representatives and other prominent persons.
There were heavy security arrangements that saw traffic being stopped in and around the posh Juhu-Vile Parle area.
Despite the Shiv Sena's directives to its activists to greet him with black flags because he had "insulted" Marathi people and Maharashtra, security personnel ensured that there was not a single pennant visible.
The Mumbai Police efforts were supplemented by commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force and other forces.
In the afternoon, Rahul will go to Ghatkopar, the north-eastern part of Mumbai where the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar slums are located.
He will garland a statue of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar there, pay homage and then interact with select slum youths.
A spokesperson said both the meetings were organised keeping in mind Rahul Gandhi's desire to meet youth and students from different strata of society.
A couple of kilometres from Bhaidas Hall, a group of women activists led by Shiv Sena corporator Rajul Patel attempted to break the security barricades but they were whisked off to the police station and put under detention.
Violating prohibitory orders, Shiv Sainiks had also gathered in large groups in Andheri, Vile Parle, Jogeshwari and Ghatkopar.
After his brief visit, lasting just about four hours, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to go to Pondicherry.